A recent investigation involving over 2,700 senior Canadians revealed that older adults with diabetes encountered an increased risk of depression amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this group, nearly half of those previously diagnosed with depression reported depressive episodes during the pandemic. Loneliness emerged as a significant factor exacerbating the situation. ZhiDi Deng, a clinical pharmacist and the study’s lead author, observed, “The pandemic considerably amplified the risk of depression among elderly individuals with diabetes due to loneliness. This not only underscores the mental health challenges imposed by quarantines and lockdowns but also points to the necessity for enhancing service delivery to this demographic in future public health emergencies.”
While those without a prior history of depression were less affected, one in eight still suffered from depression in late 2020. Grace Li, a co-author and research assistant at the University of Toronto’s Institute for Life Course and Aging, emphasized, “The pandemic has profoundly affected the mental well-being of all, particularly those older adults with chronic diseases like diabetes. It’s crucial for primary health caregivers to stay alert for depression signs in their elderly patients, even those who previously coped well.” The study also pinpointed additional risk factors for depression among diabetic patients, including gender, physical limitations, chronic pain, and family conflicts.
Some findings were contrary to expectations. It was noted that individuals who were separated, divorced, or widowed had lower rates of recurring depression during the pandemic compared to those married or in common-law relationships. Dorina Cadar, co-author and Senior Lecturer in Neuroepidemiology and Dementia at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School suggested, “Contrary to pre-pandemic data which showed married people as generally less depressed, our study found that marital status might have negatively impacted mental health during the pandemic due to prolonged close proximity and potential exacerbation of relational conflicts.”
Another surprising result was the higher depression risk among wealthier individuals compared to their less affluent counterparts during the pandemic—a reversal of pre-pandemic trends. Maria Rowsell, another co-author, theorized, “This could be influenced by the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit, which provided a $2000 monthly income to those who lost jobs, potentially alleviating financial stress among lower-income Canadians and inadvertently impacting their mental health more positively.” The study utilized data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and involved individuals with diabetes, including 1,757 without and 973 with a history of depression before the pandemic. These findings were recently published in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus.
Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, the senior author and Director at the Institute for Life Course and Aging, concluded, “The pandemic’s impact extends well beyond physical health, highlighting the urgent need to enhance mental health services accessibility for those with diabetes, particularly during stressful periods. Effective interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and psychoeducation should be more accessible to support the mental health of those with coexisting depression and diabetes.” This study not only sheds light on the direct impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable populations but also offers insights into how health policy and support systems can adapt to better address the complex interplay of chronic illness and mental health in crises.
More information: ZhiDi Deng et al, Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Depression in middle-aged and older Canadians with Diabetes: Insights on Incidence, Recurrence, and Risk Factors from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus. DOI: 10.1016/j.aggp.2024.100065
Journal information: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus Provided by University of Toronto
