Factors associated with anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Pakistan

The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T2DM) by using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted after necessary ethical approval from Medicare Hospital Rawalpindi and Capital Development Authority Hospital Islamabad in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki. Three hundred thirty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected by non-stratified random sampling technique from August 2016 to February 2017. Majority of the T2DM patients (n = 258, 66.5%) had mild anxiety, followed by mild to moderate anxiety (n = 82, 21.1%). A significant association (p < 0.01) was observed between anxiety and patients’ gender, education, and occupation; whereas, statistically insignificant association (p > 0.05) was observed between HAM-A score and patients’ age, family history, and life style. Linear regression analysis revealed gender (OR = − 0.308, CI-0.57-0.299) as a significant predictor (p < 0.01) for anxiety. Findings of this study demonstrate that large proportion of the diabetic patients is suffering with type of anxiety. A significant association of anxiety was identified with gender, education, and occupation of type 2 diabetes patients.