Prevalence and diagnosis experience of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women over 50: Focusing on socioeconomic factors

Abstract

Osteoporosis is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system in old age. Therefore, research on osteoporosis risk factors is actively being conducted. However, whether socioeconomic inequality is associated with the prevalence and diagnosis experience of osteoporosis remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate whether socioeconomic inequality can be a risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Cross-sectional data of 1,477 postmenopausal women aged over 50 obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-2 were analyzed. Univariate analyses were performed to calculate the prevalence of osteoporosis and the rate of osteoporosis diagnosis experience according to the risk factor categories. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent variables’ associations with osteoporosis prevalence and diagnosis experience. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 34.8%, while the diagnosis experience rate was 22.1%. The higher the age, the higher the probability of osteoporosis presence and diagnosis experience. The lowest household income level was associated with a 1.63 times higher risk of osteoporosis. On the contrary, this factor was not significant for diagnosis experience. These results were similar for the 50–59 and 60–69 age groups. Among postmenopausal women, those who are older and have low socioeconomic levels are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis. Moreover, the lower the socioeconomic level, the lower the awareness of osteoporosis. Therefore, there is a need to develop more proactive preventive measures in postmenopausal women with low socioeconomic levels.

Analyses of the relationship between hyperuricemia and osteoporosis

“…Among the countries, Korea showed highest rate of osteoporosis diagnosis. Osteoporosis had a prevalence of 6.8% in our paper, which is lower than that in previous reports (7.8 to 22.1%) 46 , 47 . Since our data showed a relatively high proportion of older men over the age of 60, we speculate that the overall number of participants with osteoporosis may have been low.…”

Influence of Residence Area and Basic Livelihood Conditions on the Prevalence and Diagnosis Experience of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women Aged over 50 Years: Evaluation Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data

“…However, since osteoporosis is asymptomatic, many patients are not recognized or diagnosed until osteoporosis-related trauma, such as fracture, occurs [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In our previous study, the prevalence rate of osteoporosis was 34.8% in women aged over 50 years, and the diagnosis rate was as low as 22.1% [ 9 ]. Therefore, it is important to prevent osteoporosis and facilitate early diagnosis.…”

“…In addition, it is reported that socioeconomic factors at the individual level, such as educational level and income, are also indirect causes [ 12 , 13 ]. In our previous study, the difference between the cause of osteoporosis and the diagnosis at the socioeconomic level was reported [ 9 ].…”

Inflammatory Markers as a Predictor of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

“…1,5,12 However, previous studies have shown that the prevalence of osteoporosis among women aged over 50 years varies widely (10.3-34.8%). 13,14 In particular, Omani women may be at higher risk of PMOP as a consequence of calcium and vitamin D deficiencies and inactive lifestyles. 15,16 According to the diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization, osteopenia and osteoporosis should be considered in young adult females if bone mineral density (BMD) is 1-2.5 or ≥2.5 standard deviations (SDs) below the mean, respectively.…”