What is the pooled prevalence of anxiety disorders among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in India?
Nearly one-third of adults with T2DM in India experience anxiety, underscoring the need for routine mental health screening in diabetes care.
BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric comorbidities among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), adversely affecting glycaemic control and overall health outcomes. However, comprehensive national estimates of their burden among T2DM patients in India remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anxiety among adults with T2DM in India. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE was conducted for studies published up to January 31, 2025. Eligible studies were observational in design, conducted in India, and reported the prevalence of anxiety using standardized diagnostic tools. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled prevalence. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore heterogeneity, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies involving 7,067 T2DM patients were included. The pooled prevalence of anxiety was 30% (95% CI: 22%-38%), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 99.14%). The prevalence of severe anxiety was estimated at 7% (95% CI: 3%-11%). Subgroup analysis indicated higher prevalence in studies using screening tools such as GAD-7 and DASS-21. Meta-regression identified comorbid depression and hypertension as significant contributors to heterogeneity. Publication bias was noted in studies assessing severe anxiety. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third of adults with T2DM in India experience anxiety, underscoring the need for routine screening and integration of mental health services into diabetes care, particularly within the framework of India's National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Addressing this comorbidity may improve both psychological and metabolic outcomes in this population. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-025-01826-y.
Achary et al. (Tue,) studied this question.