Mental Health Status, Quality of Life, and Associated Factors Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in the Buea Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

Aim: The rising burden of diabetes in developing countries is a cause for concern. It is projected that there will be more than 590 million Type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients by 2035. Diabetes mellitus may affect the mental health and quality of life of the affected population. In Cameroon, there is little data on the mental health status and quality of life of people living with diabetes. This study assessed the mental health status (depression and anxiety) and the quality of life of people living with type 2 diabetes seeking treatment in the Buea Regional Hospital, Cameroon. Methods: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study involving type 2 diabetic patients seeking treatment in the Buea Regional Hospital. The study involved 230 participants recruited consecutively from the diabetic unit. Quantitative data on depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) were collected from 230 T2D patients using standard questionnaires (PHQ9, GAD-7 and WHOQoL-BREF) from March 2025 to April 2025. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27 to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and the quality of life. Binary and Linear regression analyses aided to determine the factors associated with anxiety, depression and QoL. Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 19.6% and 30.0% respectively. Anxiety and depression were both associated with the level of income and the duration of the diseases. Those with comorbidity (AOR= 2.26) were more likely to be depressed, whereas those who did physical exercises were less likely to be depressed (AOR= 0.41). The quality of life was poor in the physical (34,8%), psychological (33.0%), social (34.3%) and environmental (22.2%) domains. For the physical and social domains, poor QoL was associated with an increase in age. The physical, social and environmental QoL were negatively affected with the duration of the disease. Participants with comorbidity had a better physical, environmental and social QoL. Conclusion: These findings provide context-specific evidence to guide interventions aimed at improving the psychosocial well-being of type 2 diabetic patients in Cameroon. Recommendation: This study recommend screening diabetic patients for mental health related issues and to incorporate mental health counselling in their hospital care.