Temporal changes in the prevalence of depression in subjects with and without diabetes in a rural area of Bangladesh

Data regarding depression among rural subjects with diabetes in Bangladesh is scarce. Researchers involved with Diabetic Association of Bangladesh have been working in this field for the last two decades. In reference to a previous study in that paticular area, whether the situation has changed, a study was designed to investigate the prevalence of depression in individuals with and without diabetes. In 2004; 952 and in 2009; 2293 subjects, aged ≥ 20 years were recruited from 10 villages after obtaining informed consent. Blood sugar was tested for diabetes. Simplified Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale was followed to detect depression. Overall the prevalence of depression in the year 2004 and 2009 were 29% and 4.67% respectively. Symptoms of depression in subjects with and without diabetes were observed in 29.7% and 14.1% in the year 2004 and 1.44% and 3.23% in 2009. Trend of diabetes without depression was upwards (2.8% in 2004 and 6.45% in 2009). In the study period of five years the overall prevalence of depression decreased especially in females. Our study results in 2009 are similar to studies in Bangladesh (4.6%) and other neighboring countries. It could be predicted that income and socio-economic facilities may be the prime factors for depression. As our study area had expansion and improvement in these sectors within the study period, the prevalence of depression decreased. We can conclude that diabetes may increase but depression decreases in better infrastructure and financial state in the context of Bangladesh.