Depression prevalence is 2-3 times higher in people with versus without diabetes. Among Canadians (45-85 years) who participated in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (2010-2015), we evaluated associations across age groups between diabetes and (1) depression at baseline, (2) depressive symptoms at 18 months and (3) having sought medical care for these symptoms in the prior month.
Depression at baseline was identified by CES-D 10 (score ≥10). At 18 months, Kessler 10 scale (score ≥19) defined depressive symptoms and those who self-reported having sought care for these symptoms were identified.
Among 29,933 individuals (mean age ± standard deviation 63 ± 10.4 years; 49% men), at baseline, 22.3% of those with diabetes had depression versus 15.2% of those without diabetes. In multivariate logistic regression models, individuals with (versus without) diabetes had higher risks of depression in all age groups (diabetes vs. no diabetes 45-60 years old: odds ratio, OR 2.00, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.70-2.39; 61-70 years: 1.39, 1.16-1.66 and 71-85 years: 1.37, 1.14-1.64). Among those with diabetes younger (versus older) individuals had higher risks of depression (diabetes 45-60 vs. 61-70 years old: OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.32-2.10 and vs. 71-85; 1.48, 1.17-1.87). Among those without diabetes, individuals 45-60 had a 13% increased risk of depression versus those 61-70 years old and similar risk versus those 71-85 years old. Depressive symptoms and seeking medical care for these symptoms at 18 months did not difer.
Younger individuals with diabetes had higher risks of depression compared to older individuals.