The prevalence of mental health medication use in a cohort of New Zealand patients with diabetes

AimsDiabetes is associated with depression, anxiety and psychosis via complex bidirectional relationships that are affected by factors such as the type of diabetes and socioeconomic status. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of mental health conditions in patients with diabetes in a New Zealand primary care population using proxy medication dispensing data.MethodsPrimary care data (July 1 2016 – June 30, 2018) was collected from the Patient Management System of 15 different general practices, and was linked via National Health Index number to clinical records at the Waikato District Health Board and the New Zealand Ministry of Health Pharmaceutical database.ResultsA total of 3978 patients with diabetes were identified from an enrolled patient population of 74,250. Of these, 18.0% of patients with diabetes were dispensed an antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic. These medications were prescribed more in New Zealand Europeans (20.9% versus 13.9% in Māori), women, type 2 diabetes, those on insulin, and those with a higher BMI (all P < 0.001).ConclusionsApproximately one fifth of patients with diabetes in primary care have mental health disorders. Appropriate management requires concomitant treatment of both the diabetes and the mental health disorder to improve patient outcomes.