Prevalence and Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes in Major Depression: A Study on 703 Individuals Referred for Sleep Examinations.

Background: Several studies have investigated the prevalence and risk factors of depression in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in major depression.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of type 2 diabetes in a large sample of individuals with major depression.

Methods: Data from 703 individuals with major depression recruited from the research database of the sleep laboratory of the Erasme Hospital were analysed. Only individuals with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes according to the diagnostic criteria of the American Diabetes Association were included in the diabetes group. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine clinical and demographic risk factors of type 2 diabetes in major depression.

Results: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in major depression is 21.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex, high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, BMI ≥30kg/m², age ≥50 years, sleep duration <6.5 hours, C-reactive protein ≥4.5mg/L, Beck Depression Inventory >12, and apnea-hypopnea index ≥5/h were significant risk factors of type 2 diabetes in major depression.

Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes is a common condition in major depression. In this subpopulation, most of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes are reversible, which justifies better prevention and management of this disorder to avoid its negative consequences.