Unlike other medical conditions, type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for new-onset major depression after COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: It is unclear whether pre-COVID medical conditions are risk factors for post-COVID major depressive episode (MDE). We aimed to determine which pre-COVID medical conditions are risk factors for post-COVID MDE after a hospitalization for COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a nested retrospective case-cohort study within a cohort of 650 patients evaluated six months after hospitalization for COVID-19 at Bicêtre hospital, France. Nine medical conditions present before COVID-19 (High blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiac, respiratory and renal disease, immune deficiency, neoplasia and liver disease) were extracted from medical records. MDE was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders-Clinician Version (SCID-5-CV). Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed to determine which pre-COVID medical conditions are independent risk factors for post-COVID new-onset MDE.

Results: Patients mean age was 62.8 (15.8), 258 (39.7 %) were women; 301 (46.3 %) had high blood pressure, 205 (32.4 %) had obesity, and 186 (28.6 %) had type 2 diabetes. Thirty-six (5.5 %) patients were diagnosed with a new-onset MDE. In contrast to other medical conditions, type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with new-onset MDE (OR = 2.51 [1.19-5.29]).

Conclusion: Unlike other pre-COVID medical conditions, type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for post-COVID MDE. Patients with type 2 diabetes should be screened for MDE after a hospitalization for COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Major depressive episode; Type 2 diabetes.