Prevalence of Depression Among U.S. Adults With Diabetes

Prevalence of Depression Among U.S. Adults With Diabetes
Published online October 12, 2007
Chaoyang Li, MD, PHD, Earl S. Ford, MD, MPH, Tara W. Strine, MPH and Ali H. Mokdad, PHD
Diabetes Care
© 2008 by the American Diabetes Association

Epidemiology/Health Services Research
Original Research

Findings from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

From the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Li, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy., MS K66, Atlanta, GA 30341. Email: cli@cdc.gov

OBJECTIVE—To estimate the prevalence rate of depression among adults with diabetes using a large population-based sample in the U.S.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a standardized telephone survey among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years, were analyzed (n = 18,814). The Patient Health Questionnaire diagnostic algorithm was used to identify major depression.

RESULTS—The age-adjusted prevalence rate of major depression was 8.3% (95% CI 7.3–9.3), ranging from a low of 2.0% in Connecticut to a high of 28.8% in Alaska. There were 25-fold differences in the rate among racial/ethnic subgroups (lowest, 1.1% among Asians; highest, 27.8% among American Indians/Alaska Natives). People with type 2 diabetes who were currently using insulin had a higher rate than people with type 1 diabetes (P = 0.0009) and those with type 2 diabetes who were currently not using insulin (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS—Major depression was highly prevalent among people with diabetes; the prevalence rate varied greatly by demographic characteristics and diabetes types.

Abbreviations: BRFSS, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System • CIDI, Composite International Diagnostic Interview • SCID, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders • PHQ, Patient Health Questionnaire

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