Examining the impact of mental disease on type 2 diabetes outcomes: results from the EpiChron Cohort

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is often accompanied by other chronic diseases, including mental diseases (MD). This work aimed at studying MD prevalence in T2D patients and analyse its impact on T2D health outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective, observational study of individuals of the EpiChron Cohort aged 18 and over with prevalent T2D at baseline (2011) in Aragón, Spain (n = 63,365). Participants were categorized by the existence or absence of MD, defined as the presence of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or substance abuse. MD prevalence was calculated, and a logistic regression model was performed to analyse the likelihood of the four studied health outcomes (4-year all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization, T2D-hospitalization, and emergency room visits) based on the presence of each type of MD, after adjusting by age, sex and number of comorbidities.

Results

Mental diseases were observed in 19% of T2D patients, with depression being the most frequent condition, especially in women (20.7% vs. 7.57%). Mortality risk was significantly higher in patients with MD (odds ratio -OR- 1.24; 95% confidence interval -CI- 1.16-1.31), especially in those with substance abuse (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.84-2.57) and schizophrenia (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.50-2.21). The presence of MD also increased the risk of T2D-hospitalization (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.18-1.93), emergency room visits (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.21-1.32) and all-cause hospitalization (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.10-1.23).

Conclusions

The high prevalence of MD among T2D patients, and its association with health outcomes, underscores the importance of providing integrated, person-centred care and early detection of comorbid mental diseases in T2D patients to improve disease management and health outcomes.

Key messages

Comprehensive care of T2D should include specific strategies for prevention, early detection, and management of comorbidities, especially mental disorders, in order to reduce their impact on health. Substance abuse was the mental disease with the highest risk of T2D-hospitalization, emergency room visits and all-cause hospitalization.