Prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in pregnant women with type 2 diabetes and the impact on glycaemic control

AIMS: To study the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in pregnant women with type 2 diabetes compared with pregnant women without diabetes. Secondly, to explore whether anxiety and/or depression symptoms in early pregnancy have an impact on glycaemic control and gestational weight gain.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 90 consecutive singleton pregnant women with type 2 diabetes and 88 singleton pregnant women without diabetes. All women completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire in early and late pregnancy. A score ≥8 in the anxiety or the depression scale was used to define anxiety and/or depression symptoms.

RESULTS: Anxiety and/or depression symptoms were present in 40% of women with type 2 diabetes and 7% of women without diabetes in early pregnancy (Relative Risk=5.87 (95% Confidence Interval: 2.60-13.22). The figures were similar in late pregnancy. In women with type 2 diabetes and anxiety and/or depression symptoms in early pregnancy, HbA1c (mean±SD) was 52±14 vs. 49±11 mmol/mol (6.9±1.2 vs. 6.6±1.0%), p=0.31 in early pregnancy and 43±8 vs. 40±4 mmol/mol (6.1±0.7 vs. 5.8±0.4%), p=0.04 in late pregnancy compared with women without symptoms. Gestational weight gain was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In women with type 2 diabetes, 40% had anxiety and/or depression symptoms in early pregnancy. Women with these symptoms obtained less optimal glycaemic control in late pregnancy but similar gestational weight gain as the remaining women.