Association between psychological distress and gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes mellitus

Table 3 Comparison of gastrointestinal symptoms between diabetic patients and healthy subjects with severe anxiety and depression (n = 906)

Variables	Severe anxiety1		P value	Severe depression2		P value
	DM with GI	Healthy subjects		DM with GI	Healthy subjects
GI symptoms	n = 107	n = 62		n = 43	n = 20
Anal blockage	57 (53.3)	22 (35.5)	0.026	20 (46.5)	4 (20)	0.050
Bloating	54 (50.5)	25 (40.3)	0.203	18 (41.9)	6 (30)	0.416
Urgency	54 (50.5)	24 (38.7)	0.139	17( 39.5)	5 (25)	0.395
Vomiting	37 (34.6)	16 (25.8)	0.236	18 (41.9)	5 (25)	0.264
Dysphasia	44 (41.1)	-	-	26 (60.5)		-
Nausea	38 (35.5)	19 (30.6)	0.519	13 (30.2)	6 (30)	0.980
Heartburn	37 (34.6)	11 (17.7)	0.019	18 (41.9)	3 (15)	0.046
< 3 bowels/wk	36 (33.6)	18 (29.0)	0.805	22 (51.2)	4 (20)	0.028
> 3 Bowels/d	32 (29.9)	18 (29.0)	0.993	21 (48.8)	4 (20)	0.050
Abdominal pain	22 (20.6)	16 (25.8)	0.431	10 (23.3)	5 (25)	0.989
Lumpy/hard stools	30 (28.0)	13 (21.0)	0.309	13 (30.2)	5 (25)	0.770
Blood in stool	24 (22.4)	19 (30.6)	0.237	6 (14.0)	5 (25)	0.304
Early satiety	28 (26.2)	17 (27.4)	0.859	18 (41.9)	1 (5)	0.003
Loose/watery stools	28 (26.2)	7 (11.3)	0.021	10 (23.3)	5 (25)	0.989
Fecal incontinence	25 (23.4)	17 (27.4)	0.557	16 (37.2)	1 (5)	0.007
Weight loss	25 (23.4)	10 (16.1)	0.263	6 (14.0)	6 (30)	0.172
Postprandial fullness	28 (26.2)	8 (12.9)	0.042	7 (16.3)	4 (20)	0.732

¹Severe anxiety (GAD7 ≥ 11).

²Severe depression (PHQ ≥ 15). DM: Diabetes mellitus; GI: Gastrointestinal; PHQ: Patient Health Questionnaire; GAD: General Anxiety Disorders.