The Relationship Between Health Literacy, Exercise Habits, and Medication Adherence in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Patients

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a common bone disease characterized by low bone mass, deterioration of bone tissue microarchitecture, and an increased risk of fractures. This condition results from the imbalance between bone formation and resorption due to decreased estrogen levels. Fractures, the feared complication of osteoporosis, make this condition a significant problem both clinically and from a public health perspective. In Europe, postmenopausal osteoporosis affects approximately 22 million women and causes over 3.5 million fragility fractures annually.

Treatment options include regular exercise, healthy nutrition, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and pharmacological treatments such as bisphosphonates, denosumab, or hormone replacement therapy. Additionally, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and preventing falls are crucial in preventing osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Despite the availability of safe and effective medications to reduce fracture risk, many patients either do not start treatment or do not adhere to it adequately. This non-adherence to treatment results in a significant clinical and economic burden. Following the prescription of medications, a substantial percentage of patients, around 20-30%, do not start taking oral bisphosphonates, and the continuation rate of osteoporosis medications over one year is reported to range from 16% to 60%. Furthermore, low levels of adherence to resistance/weight-bearing exercises (36.3%-54.4%) and physical activity (14.3%-57.7%) have been observed.

Health literacy (HL) is defined as the capacity of individuals to find, understand, evaluate, and apply health-related information to prevent diseases, develop healthy eating behaviors, and improve their health. There are limited studies on the impact of health literacy on adherence to osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. However, no study has investigated the effect of HL on both medical treatment adherence and exercise adherence in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between health literacy, exercise habits, and medication adherence in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. By identifying the factors leading to non-adherence to osteoporosis-preventive medications and regular exercise, effective interventions to enhance adherence to these treatments can be determined. This can result in better health outcomes for patients and increased efficiency within the healthcare system.