The relationship between educational level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Abstract:

BACKGROUND:This study describes the influence of educational level on bone mineral density (BMD) and investigating the relationship between educational level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. METHODS:A total of 569 postmenopausal women, from 45 to 86 years of age (mean age of 60.43 +/- 7.19 years) were included in this study. A standardized interview was used at the follow-up visit to obtain information on demographic, life-style, reproductive and menstrual histories such as age at menarche, age at menopause, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, duration of menopause, duration of fertility, and duration of lactation. Patients were separated into four groups according to the level of education, namely no education (Group 1 with 209 patients), elementary (Group 2 with 222 patients), high school (Group 3 with 79 patients), and university (Group 4 with 59 patients). RESULTS:The mean ages of groups were 59.75 +/- 7.29, 61.42 +/- 7.50, 60.23 +/- 7.49, and 58.72 +/- 7.46, respectively. Spine BMD was significant lower in Group 1 than that of other groups (p < 0.05). Trochanter and ward's triangle BMD were the highest in Group 4 and there was a significant difference between Group 1 and 4 (p < 0.05). The prevalence of osteoporosis showed an inverse relationship with level of education, ranging from 18.6% for the most educated to 34.4% for the no educated women (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between educational level and spine BMD (r = 0.20, p < 0.01), trochanter BMD (r = 0.13, p < 0.01), and ward's BMD (r = 0.14, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:The results of the study suggest that there is a significant correlation between educational level and BMD. Losses in BMD for women of lower educational level tend to be relatively high, and losses in spine and femur BMD showed a decrease with increasing educational level.

journal_name

BMC Fam Pract

journal_title

BMC family practice

authors

Gur A,Sarac AJ,Nas K,Cevik R

doi

10.1186/1471-2296-5-18

keywords:

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2004-09-06 00:00:00

pages

18

issn

1471-2296

pii

1471-2296-5-18

journal_volume

5

pub_type

杂志文章