The Strong Link Between Diabetes and Depression Across Europe: It’s More About Weight Than Where you Live
New research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual conference reveals a consistent and meaningful connection between diabetes and depression across 18 European countries, largely unaffected by national healthcare quality or socioeconomic factors. The study, led by Dr. Yaroslav Gottprid of Dublin University,Ireland,suggests that individuals with diabetes are at substantially higher risk of developing depression,and vice versa.
Researchers followed over 50-year-olds (average age 65, 57% women) for up to 11 years, analyzing data from the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, and 14 othre European nations.They investigated whether country-level factors – like diabetes healthcare quality, healthcare spending, poverty rates, and income inequality – and individual factors – including age, gender, BMI, smoking habits, physical activity, and diabetes type – influenced the relationship between the two conditions.
The findings showed that individuals with severe depression had a 15% increased risk of developing diabetes. Conversely, those diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to experience severe depression, with a 48% increase in risk. Importantly, this correlation held true irrespective of variations in national healthcare systems or social demographics. While the overall risk of developing diabetes and depression varied by country – with the lowest diabetes risk in the Netherlands and highest in Portugal, and the lowest depression risk in Denmark and highest in Italy – the connection between the two remained consistent.
Interestingly, of all the factors analyzed, body mass index (BMI) was the sole influencer on the link between diabetes and depression. For every one-point increase in BMI among diabetic patients, the risk of experiencing depressive symptoms rose by 2.1%. This is compared to a 1.3% increase in risk for individuals without diabetes.
Dr.Gottprid and his team conclude that the relationship between diabetes and depression is remarkably similar throughout Europe, suggesting that successful prevention and treatment strategies could be broadly applied. understanding this connection, and notably the role of BMI, is crucial for identifying and supporting high-risk patients. The research highlights that managing weight is a key factor in mitigating the risk of depression for those living with diabetes.
(Image Caption: In large-scale long-term studies of adults aged 50 and over throughout Europe, the impact of diabetes and depression on each other shows that there is no big difference. [Photo=Getty Images Bank])
