Rising diabetes risk among Beijing’s depression inpatients sparks call for integrated care

A new study published in Health Data Science by researchers at Peking University reveals a concerning rise in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among depression inpatients in Beijing from 2005 to 2018. This large-scale analysis, involving nearly 21,000 psychiatric inpatients across 19 hospitals, offers the first comprehensive assessment of diabetes comorbidity in Chinese patients clinically diagnosed with depression.

Depression and type 2 diabetes are both chronic conditions with substantial health burdens, yet their co-occurrence in Chinese populations remains understudied. Using hospital records and ICD-10 diagnostic criteria, the researchers found that 9.13% of depression inpatients had T2DM, and this prevalence significantly increased over the 13-year period. Notably, patients with coexisting conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) faced significantly higher odds of developing T2DM.

The data also revealed demographic patterns: older age, repeated hospitalizations, and socioeconomic factors such as employment status and insurance type were all linked to elevated T2DM risk. Importantly, a sex-age crossover was observed—male patients had higher T2DM rates before age 60, while female patients surpassed them after age 60, possibly due to postmenopausal changes.

“This research highlights an urgent need for integrated management of mental and metabolic health,” said Min Liu, a professor at Peking University and senior author of the study. “By identifying high-risk subgroups within the depression inpatient population, we can better tailor screening and preventive interventions.”

The authors advocate for closer monitoring and targeted interventions for depression patients with metabolic comorbidities, especially among older adults and those with limited access to comprehensive care. The findings aim to support policy and clinical strategies that bridge psychiatric and physical healthcare, improving outcomes for a vulnerable population.

The team plans to expand their research to include longitudinal follow-ups and integrate additional health indicators such as BMI and medication history to better understand causal relationships and inform future clinical guidelines.