HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND CARDIOMETABOLIC VARIABLES IN PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes Mellitus is related to the increase prevalence of mental health problems. The aim of this study was to a) verify the anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of diabetics with and without symptoms of depression; b) correlate HRQoL with blood glucose levels and abdominal adiposity and c) investigate if there is difference between genders. Ninety-six individuals, with an average age of 56.2 ± 9.6 years, men and women, carried out anthropometric measure: waist circumference (WC), body mass index, evaluation of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and fasting blood glucose. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory and the SF-36 Questionnaire verified the presence of depressive symptoms, the anxiety level and the HRQoL respectively. Most individuals were overweight (78%) and altered WC (72.9%). The depression’s prevalence was 34.1%, and the levels of trait and state anxiety were 63.3% and 77%. Individuals with depression had worse HRQoL, anxiety (trait) and altered WC, but without differences in HR and BP. Men had better HRQoL and lower levels of depression than women. Cardiometabolic variables (abdominal adiposity and blood glucose) correlated with altered HRQoL, despite gender. In men, correlations between glycemia and functional capacity, and HR with mental health were observed. In women, anxiety levels correlated with functional capacity and abdominal adiposity. Diabetes is directly related to biopsychosocial factors, mainly HRQoL and depression. In addition, depressive diabetics have worse HRQoL, more anxiety and, in men, changes in body composition.