Background and Objectives: A high incidence of depression has been reported in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus (DM-PTB). However, the association between depression and DM-PTB is poorly understood and requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression and the associated factors in patients with DM-PTB.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among DM-PTB patients at the Tuberculosis Department of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, China, enrolled between June 2021 and October 2021. The depression status, nutritional status, and the quality of life of the patients were evaluated using Patient Health Questionnaire– 9 (PHQ-9), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002), and Quality of Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases-Pulmonary Tuberculosis (QLICD-PT), respectively.
Results: A total number of 280 DM-PTB patients were screened, of whom 22 were excluded for missing data. Among the 258 DM-PTB patients subjected to analysis, 199 patients (77.13%) had PHQ-9 scores above 10. The patients with depression are more likely to have a lower monthly income, body mass index (BMI), and QLICD-PT than those without depression. The NRS2002 score and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) levels in the depression group were more likely to be higher than those in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that physical function [OR = 0.798, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.716– 0.889, P < 0.001] was a protective factor against depression, whereas NRS2002 ≥ 3 (OR = 2.299, 95% CI, 1.095– 4.825, P = 0.028), GPT (OR = 1.048, 95% CI, 1.018– 1.079, P = 0.002), and social function (OR = 1.103, 95% CI, 1.033– 1.179, P = 0.004) were risk factors of depression.
Conclusion: Depression in DM-PTB patients may be associated with monthly income, BMI, QLICD-PT scores, NRS2002 scores, GPT, and GOT levels.
Keywords: depression, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, cross-sectional study