Nabil Sulaiman|Aisha Hamdan|Hani Tamim|Dhafir A Mahmood|Doris Young
The prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety in a sample of diabetic patients in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
University of Sharjah|University of Sharjah|King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences|King Abdullah International Medical Research Center|Oasis Hospital|University of Melbourne
type 2 diabetes prevalent gulf region particularly united arab emirates uae second highest prevalence world factors contributing include changes diet adoption sedentary lifestyles consequent increase rates obesity changes primarily due rapid economic development affluence aim study estimate prevalence psychological distress correlates diabetic patients united arab emirates patients diagnosed diabetes attending diabetes miniclinics primary health care centres hospitals sharjah invited participate crosssectional study patients interviewed using structured questionnaires gather data sociodemographics lifestyle factors diabetes complications medication usage k6 administered screening tool mental health concerns three hundred fortyseven participants completed interview majority participants females 654 mean age 532 sd 146 approximately 125 patients obtained score 19 cutoff score k6 indicating possible mental health concerns twentyfour percent diabetes complications mainly form retinopathy peripheral vascular disease peripheral neuropathy significant relationship found scores k6 complications diabetes use oral hypoglycemic lipid lowering therapies results study demonstrate strong correlation mental health status diabetic complications particular patients depressed tended poorer selfcare severe physical symptoms less likely adhere prescribed care regimens findings raise possibility improving mental health part comprehensive management plan diabetes may improve overall long term outcomes patients