Elevated Depressive Symptoms, Antidepressant Use, and Diabetes in a Large Multiethnic National Sample of Postmenopausal Women

Yunsheng Ma, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Raji Balasubramanian, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Sherry L. Pagoto, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Kristin L. Schneider, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Annie L. Culver, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Mayo Clinic
Barbara C. Olendzki, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Lesley Tinker, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Simin Liu, University of California - Los Angeles
Monika M. Safford, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Deidre M. Sepavich, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Milagros C. Rosal, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Judith K. Ockene, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Mercedes Carnethon, Northwestern University
Martha Zorn, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
James R. Hebert, University of South Carolina

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To examine elevated depressive symptoms and antidepressant use in relation to diabetes incidence in the Women’s Health Initiative.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 161,808 postmenopausal women were followed for over an average of 7.6 years. Hazard ratios (HRs) estimating the effects of elevated depressive symptoms and antidepressant use on newly diagnosed incident diabetes were obtained using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for known diabetes risk factors.

RESULTS Multivariable-adjusted HRs indicated an increased risk of incident diabetes with elevated baseline depressive symptoms (HR 1.14 [95% CI 1.08–1.21]) and antidepressant use (1.20 [1.09–1.32]). These associations persisted in year 3 data, in which respective adjusted HRs were 1.23 (1.09–1.39) and 1.31 (1.14–1.50).

CONCLUSIONS Postmenopausal women with elevated depressive symptoms and who use antidepressants have a greater risk of developing incident diabetes. In addition, longstanding elevated depressive symptoms and recent antidepressant medication use increase the risk of incident diabetes.