Depression, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and quality of life in Taiwanese adults from a cardiovascular department of a major hospital in Southern Taiwan

Aims: To examine the relationships between depression, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and quality of life in Taiwanese adults from a cardiovascular department of a major hospital in Taiwan.

Background: Research suggests associations between depression, metabolic syndrome and quality of life. Despite this fact, few studies have investigated these relationships among Taiwanese.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used to conduct this study.

Methods: A convenience sample of 140 adults participated in the study. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, hierarchical regression and t-tests.

Results: Almost a half of the subjects (46.5%) had metabolic syndrome. The most common combination of metabolic syndrome criteria was elevated blood glucose, central obesity and high blood pressure (23.7%). A greater number of individuals had coronary artery disease (72.9%), type 2 diabetes (35%) and/or depression (21.4%). Type 2 diabetes and depression were significant predictors of overall quality of life (β = -0.16, p < 0.01 and β = -0.63, p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, there were significant differences between individuals with and without type 2 diabetes and/or depression regarding overall quality of life scores; t (138) = 3.50, p < 0.01); and t (138) = 7.80, p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions: Coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and depression were common among our sample of individuals with metabolic syndrome. Those with diabetes and/or depression had worse quality of life than those without those diseases.

Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses need to be prepared to assess and intervene in preventing or treating depression among patients with chronic diseases, especially those with coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. When individuals are treated for depression, they are more likely to engage in self-management of their diseases, which will prevent complications and improve their quality of life.