Haemoglobin glycosilated control and psychological features in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems: a pilot study

Background: Psychological features are frequently implicated in haemoglobin glycosilated control. The purpose of the study is to compare haemoglobin glycosilated level and some psychological features in outpatients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems and low or high anxiety inclination. Materials and methods: The median calculated for the ‘Trait anxiety’ scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory permits to create a group with low anxiety inclination (Group 1) and a group with high anxiety inclination (Group 2). Nine outpaoutpatients with low anxiety inclination (mean age ± SD = 58Æ44 ± 9Æ180; 66Æ7% male, 33Æ3% female) and seven outpatients with high anxiety inclination (mean age ± SD = 57Æ43 ± 11Æ830; 14Æ3% male, 85Æ7% female) articipated. We examined group differences in haemoglobin glycosilated level, depression, attributional styles (LCB) and alexithymia. Data were analyzed using the Student’s t-test. Results: Compared to Group 1, Group 2 showed a more evident haemoglobin glycosilated level (P = 0Æ045), more depression (P = 0Æ049) and showed more difficulties in identifying feelings as a component of alexithymia (P = 0Æ050), whereas there were no statistically significant differences in attributional style (LCB Internal, P = 0Æ611; LCB External, P = 0Æ890), alexithymia (P = 0Æ492) and in the other component of alexithymia (difficulties in describing feelings, P = 0Æ853; external thinking, P = 0Æ836). Conclusions: Psychological features could be implicated in haemoglobin control. Results are important for clinical staff as they indicate where it is relevant to intervene in order to help diabetic patients to have more haemoglobin glycosilated control.