The objectives of this study were: to characterize the polipharmacy in subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) and to verify the correlation between polipharmacy and number of medications for DM2 complications with depression indicators (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and urinary cortisol (CORT) levels). A sample composed of 40 patients with DM2 from the Diabetes League of HCFM-USP was analyzed for depression indicators (CORT and BDI) in addition to evaluation for polipharmacy and number of DM2 complications. The results showed oral hypoglycemic agents, insulins, antihypertensives, diuretics, lipid-lowering drugs and thrombolytics are the most frequent medications used. In this sample, 75% used from 5 to 8 medicines daily and 12.5% used more than eight medicines/day; all of them used to take each medication at least 3 times daily. Between 1 and 3 DM2 complications were observed in 60% of the individuals and 22.5% showed more than 3 DM2 complications. No significant correlations were observed between depression indicators (BDI and CORT), number of medications and DM2 complications. However, positive correlation was observed between CORT and daily frequency of medication (Spearman, r=0.319, p=0.019).
Hydrocortisone; Depression; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Nursing; Polypharmacy
