Patients with diabetes and co-morbid major depression are at increased risk of severe hypoglycemic episodes requiring hospitalization or a visit to the emergency room.
Analyzing data on 4,117 adult diabetic patients over a five-year period, researchers found depressed patients compared to non-depressed patients with diabetes had a significantly higher risk of a severe hypoglycemic episode (hazard ratio = 1.42, 95 percent, confidence interval 1.03-1.96) and a greater number of hypoglycemic episodes (odds ratio = 1.34, 95 percent, CI 1.03-1.75).
They suggest the increased risk of severe hypoglycemic episodes in patients with comorbid depression may be due to poor self-care or psychobiologic changes associated with depression.
They call for future research to assess whether recognition and effective treatment of depression among diabetic patients prevents severe hypoglycemic episodes, as well as the increased risk of complications and mortality.
Association of Depression With Increased Risk of Severe Hypoglycemic Episodes in Patients With Diabetes By Wayne J. Katon, MD, et al, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle