The Hidden Burden—Exploring Depression Risk in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication among patients with diabetes mellitus, and it has been linked to a higher risk of depression. However, the magnitude of this association remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse the risk of depression in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to diabetes patients without nephropathy. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review, searching multiple databases from January 1964 to March 2023, and included randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and observational studies. We assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle Ottawa scale for observational studies. The statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 14.2, and pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. A total of 60 studies were included. Results The pooled OR for the risk of depression among patients with diabetic nephropathy was 1.78 (95% CI 1.56–2.04; I 2 = 83%; n = 56), indicating a significantly higher risk compared to diabetes patients without nephropathy ( p < 0.001). Pooling the effect size across these studies showed that the pooled OR was 1.15 (95% CI 1.14–1.16; I 2 = 88%; n = 32). Subgroup analyses based on the type of diabetes and study region revealed no significant differences in the pooled estimates. Conclusion This study demonstrates that patients with diabetic nephropathy have a significantly higher risk of depression compared to diabetes patients without nephropathy. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and addressing the mental health of patients with diabetic nephropathy as part of their overall healthcare management. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13300-023-01436-y.

Analysis of clinical evidence on traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy: a comprehensive review with evidence mapping

“…Such an approach might cause the study results not to mirror the disease’s severity or the therapeutic efficacy accurately ( 44 ). Studies that amalgamate patients across different stages can be counterproductive when merging data for meta-analyses, creating avenues for heterogeneity ( 45 , 46 ).…”