Type 2 diabetes, depressive symptoms and disability over a 15-year follow-up period in older Mexican Americans living in the southwestern United States

Aims To evaluate how depression and diabetes severity impact disability progression among Mexican Americans over a 15-year period. Methods We used seven waves of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE). Primary disability outcomes included the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales. Explanatory variables included time since diagnosis with diabetes (no type 2 diabetes, 1–10, 11–20, 21 +), an indicator of disease severity, and depression. Longitudinal generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the relationship between time since diabetes diagnosis, depressive symptoms and ADL and IADL disability progression over a 15-year time period. Results Years since diabetes diagnosis was associated with more rapid ADL and IADL disability progression compared to those without type 2 diabetes. Depression accelerated the disabling process in participants who were diagnosed with diabetes 11 years or more years ago. Conclusions Longer duration of diabetes and greater symptoms of depression increase vulnerability for disability among older Mexican American adults.