Comorbid psychiatric illness and its association with glycemic control among adults with diabetes mellitus: a hospital based cross sectional study in Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: People diagnosed with diabetes are more likely than people without diabetes to have psychiatric illness, the management of which is important for the management of diabetes itself. The aim of the study was to estimate psychiatric illness among people with diabetes mellitus attending endocrinology outpatient department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

Methods: Patients with diabetes mellitus attending endocrinology OPD of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital were selected by simple random sampling technique. Patients were assessed using semi structured sociodemographic data form followed by General health questionnaire -12 (GHQ-12), which was used to screen psychiatric illness. Those with a score of three or more were considered as having psychiatric caseness which designated over all psychiatric illness.

Results: Among 158 patients, 122 (77.2%) were cases of type 2 diabetes while 36 (22.8%) were type 1 diabetes and overall estimate of psychiatric illness among them was 48.7% (n = 77) Significant relationship was found between psychiatric caseness and meal plan (p = 0.007) psychiatric caseness and regular exercise (p = 0.031) psychiatric caseness and type of diabetes medication used (p < 0.001) . psychiatric caseness and diabetes medication doses missed per week (p < 0.001) psychiatric caseness and glycemic control. (p < 0.001)

Conclusion: This study showed that comorbid psychiatric illness is common in patients with diabetes which affects overall glycemic control. Hence, screening for psychiatric illness is an indispensable component of diabetes management plan