Racial and ethnic differences in diabetic patient-reported depression symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

AimsDepression is common in diabetes, but little is known about depression in minorities with diabetes. This study investigated (1) racial/ethnic variation in depressive symptoms, (2) racial/ethnic variation in patient-reported physician-diagnosed depression, (3) racial/ethnic variation in patient-reported pharmacological depression treatment, and (4) the effects of demographic and diabetes variables on these outcomes.ParticipantsA community sample of 740 persons with diabetes attending diabetes health fairs in the northeastern US participated.DesignCross-sectional, observational. Participants were paid $5 on-site for completing a one-time, anonymous self-report questionnaire.MeasurementsThe questionnaire asked about demographics and diabetes, as well as physician-diagnosed depression and medication for depression. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale was used to determine depressive symptoms.ResultsANCOVA revealed that rates of depressive symptoms were similar among White, African-American, and Latino persons with diabetes. One quarter (24.2%) endorsed physician-diagnosed depression, and 40.2% of them (9.7% of the total sample) reported pharmacological treatment. In logistic regression, African-Americans reported lower rates of physician-diagnosed depression than Whites, OR = 0.470. In logistic regression, those African Americans who endorsed depression diagnosis reported marginally lower rates of pharmacotherapy than Whites, OR = 0.415.ConclusionsProviders are encouraged to address depression in their diabetic patients, paying particular attention to minorities.