Factors influencing the risk of depression among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in an urban community in Khon Kaen

Abstract

This research aimed to study factors influencing the risk of depression among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in urban communities of Khon Kaen. An analytical cross-sectional study was designed. The population consisted of elderly patients aged 60 years and older diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension receiving treatment at primary healthcare facilities in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. A purposive sample of 500 participants was selected from two sub-district health promotion hospitals and one urban community health center. Data were collected using questionnaires that comprised personal information, internal factors, health factors, health behaviors, family and social factors, and a depression risk assessment using the Department of Mental Health's 2Q, 9Q screening tool. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data, and factors influencing the risk of depression were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, with a statistical significance level of 0.05.

The study found that most of the sample were female (67.8%), with an average age of 69.20 years, and a large percentage (47.6%) had insufficient income. Most elderly individuals (76.8%) were not at risk of depression, while 23.2% were at risk. Factors significantly influencing the risk of depression at the 0.05 level included intellectual functions (OR_adj = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.046 – 3.172, p-value = 0.034), loneliness (OR_adj = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.316 – 4.694, p-value = 0.005), complications of the disease (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.320 – 6.158, p-value = 0.008). Finally, suffering from illness (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.031 – 3.362, p-value = 0.039). The research results suggest that screening for depression in elderly individuals with chronic illnesses should be promoted, along with the development of mental health promotion activities such as social activities, hobbies, and health behavior modifications to prevent and reduce the risk of depression in elderly individuals in urban communities.