Association of Depression with Polypharmacy among Diabetic Patients of Geriatric Age Group in Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus, one of the common serious conditions among the elderly and depression is frequent finding as a Comorbidity. Polypharmacy is common in diabetes and In diabetic senior people, it has been linked to depression. Polypharmacy, especially among the elderly, is a consistent predictor of inappropriate medication. Approaching and analysing the prescription pattern in elderly diabetic patient will rationalize the drug utilization. The current research is to access the co-relation of polypharmacy in geriatric diabetic patient and accompanying depression. Objectives: To assess depression and polypharmacy and correlate their association in diabetic patients of geriatric age group. Methodology: This is questionnaire based cross sectional observational study. This shall be conducted in geriatric population attending Medicine department [OPD and IPD] [AVBRH], DMIMS, Sawangi [M], Wardha, Maharashtra, India. The depression will be assessed using Geriatric Depression scale. The Polypharmacy will be assessed using contingency table and odds ratio. Expected outcome: It is hypothesized that geriatric diabetic patients with depression [GDS>= 6] are at higher risk of encountering polypharmacy. Conclusion: To upgrades standards of life of senior diabetic patients, prescribing procedures should be reviewed.