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Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global epidemic; comorbid depressive symptoms are highly prevalent worldwide and commonly manifests as physical symptoms, including functional dyspepsia (FD), a gastrointestinal psychosomatic disorder. This study aimed to explore the effects of comorbid depressive symptoms and DM on FD in older patients.
Methods: In total, 420 older patients with DM completed measures of depression, anxiety, and FD. Relevant demographic characteristics and medical information were self-reported and obtained from the hospital information system.
Results: Among older patients with DM, 30.48% had depressive symptoms. Patients with depressive symptoms were more likely to have FD than those without (42.19% vs. 20.21%, P = .000). Dyspepsia symptoms were more frequent in patients with depression (P = .022). The greater the amount of dyspepsia symptoms, the higher the depression symptoms score (P = .000). Furthermore, dyspepsia symptoms were positively correlated with depressive symptoms (r values were 0.292, 0.311, 0.297, 0.369; all had P < .05). Both FD subtypes, postprandial distress, and epigastric pain syndromes affected depressive symptoms (P < .05). Smoking was significantly associated with FD (P < .05). Diabetes mellitus complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, different therapeutic methods, and anxiety symptoms, influenced FD overlap (x2 values were 6.298, 16.314, and 30.744; P < .05). Anxiety (odds ratio=1.832, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) 1.185-2.834) was a risk factor for FD in comorbid depressive symptoms and diabetes (P < .05).
Conclusion: Comorbid depressive symptoms and DM overlapped with physical symptoms, such as FD, in older patients with DM. Lifestyle, diabetic factors, and anxiety were the associated risk factors.
Cite this article as: Huang Z, Chen Y, Wen B, Guan H, Wu B. Effects of comorbid depressive symptoms and diabetes mellitus on functional dyspepsia in older patients. Alpha Psychiatry. 2024;25(4):465-471.