Depression negatively influences physical activity among patients with type 1 diabetes

Among patients with type 1 diabetes, the amount of physical activity performed significantly decreases in the presence of depression, as reported in a study.

The study used data from the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study and included 1,339 type 1 diabetes patients (median age 41 years, 41.7 percent male) without evidence of diabetic kidney disease or macrovascular complications.

According to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, 150 patients (11.2 percent) had symptoms of depression. This group was more likely to be female and had higher total cholesterol concentration compared with the group of patients with no symptoms of depression.

In terms of physical activity, patients with vs without depressive symptoms reported lower levels of total leisure-time physical activity (LTPA; 13.2 vs 19.8 metabolic equivalent of task hour [METh]; p<0.001). This was true for activity levels, frequencies, and intensities of LTPA.

Furthermore, patients with depression were more frequently sedentary (42.2 percent vs 23.7 percent), performing LTPA less than once a week (30.8 percent vs 17.7 percent), and doing low-intensity LTPA (43.1 percent vs percent 21.4 percent).

In multivariable logistic regression models, both higher BDI scores and depressive symptoms showed an association with inactive lifestyle as well as lower frequency and intensity of the LTPA. Moreover, BDI score was linked to shorter single session duration.

Sensitivity analysis that looked at antidepressant purchases revealed lower odds among patients with higher intensity and longer single session duration of LTPA.

The findings suggest that efforts to improve both mental well-being and physical activity should be taken to improve the long-term health of individuals with type 1 diabetes.