Rokhsareh Aghili1, Martin Ridderstråle2, Maryam Kia3, Ameneh Ebrahim Valojerdi4, Mojtaba Malek5, Amir Farshchi6, Mohammad Ebrahim Khamseh7. 1. Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: aghili.r@tak.iums.ac.ir. 2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Obesity, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. Electronic address: martin.ridderstrale@med.lu.se. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mkia220@gmail.com. 4. Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: ebrahimv86@gmail.com. 5. Research Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: malek.m@iums.ac.ir. 6. Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: farshchi_a@razi.tums.ac.ir. 7. Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: khamseh.m@iums.ac.ir.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Attitudes toward diabetes care are different between genders and age-groups. Furthermore, diabetes related challenges may cause psychosocial problems. Therefore, we were to compare the psychosocial status and glycemic control in women and men with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in different age-groups. METHODS: 441 adults with T2D were recruited. Demographic, self-care behavior, resources and affective variables as well as the health related quality of life (HRQoL) were measured. The median age of 55 was used as the cut-off for the age comparison. Structured equation modeling (SEM) investigated the relationship between age, gender, psychosocial factors and glycemic control. RESULTS: Finally, 203 women and 177 men completed the study (86.1%). There was no significant difference in mean duration of T2D, or glycemic control between genders or age-groups. Women, especially those below the median age of 55, had significantly higher level of diabetes-related distress (2.16±0.94 vs. 1.92±0.81), depression (9.67±5.37 vs. 7.54±5.06), and anxiety (19.81±12.04 vs. 12.81±9.04, P<0.05 for all comparisons), while people above the age of 55 reported better self-management and patient-physician relationship. HRQoL was lower in women compared to men (0.77±0.23 vs. 0.81±0.18, P=0.02). The final SEM suggested that the effect (standardized β coefficient) of gender and age on affective variables was 0.25 and -0.19 (P<0.05), respectively, though psychosocial factors did not directly influence HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that psychosocial factors are associated with age and gender in patients with T2D; with younger women demonstrating higher level of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and diabetes-related distress independent of status of glycemic control.
BACKGROUND: Attitudes toward diabetes care are different between genders and age-groups. Furthermore, diabetes related challenges may cause psychosocial problems. Therefore, we were to compare the psychosocial status and glycemic control in women and men with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in different age-groups. METHODS: 441 adults with T2D were recruited. Demographic, self-care behavior, resources and affective variables as well as the health related quality of life (HRQoL) were measured. The median age of 55 was used as the cut-off for the age comparison. Structured equation modeling (SEM) investigated the relationship between age, gender, psychosocial factors and glycemic control. RESULTS: Finally, 203 women and 177 men completed the study (86.1%). There was no significant difference in mean duration of T2D, or glycemic control between genders or age-groups. Women, especially those below the median age of 55, had significantly higher level of diabetes-related distress (2.16±0.94 vs. 1.92±0.81), depression (9.67±5.37 vs. 7.54±5.06), and anxiety (19.81±12.04 vs. 12.81±9.04, P<0.05 for all comparisons), while people above the age of 55 reported better self-management and patient-physician relationship. HRQoL was lower in women compared to men (0.77±0.23 vs. 0.81±0.18, P=0.02). The final SEM suggested that the effect (standardized β coefficient) of gender and age on affective variables was 0.25 and -0.19 (P<0.05), respectively, though psychosocial factors did not directly influence HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that psychosocial factors are associated with age and gender in patients with T2D; with younger women demonstrating higher level of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and diabetes-related distress independent of status of glycemic control.