Abstract
Osteoporosis is a growing health problem in Asian countries with a rapidly expanding aging population. Adequate knowledge and positive health beliefs regarding osteoporosis will encourage individuals to adopt measures to protect bone health. This study aimed to investigate the association between knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding osteoporosis and bone health among Malaysians Chinese aged 40 years and above. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 367 Malaysians Chinese (182 men, 185 women) aged ≥ 40 years in Klang Valley, Malaysia. They completed a questionnaire on knowledge, beliefs, and practices of osteoporosis and underwent bone mineral density scan using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. The subjects showed moderate knowledge and high level of health beliefs regarding osteoporosis, but poor osteoprotective practices. Osteoporosis knowledge and beliefs were significantly different based on subjects’ demographic characteristics (p < 0.05). Additionally, osteoporosis knowledge was correlated positively with beliefs, coffee or tea intake (p < 0.05) but not with other lifestyle practices. Osteoporosis health beliefs was associated positively with physical activity, dairy and calcium intake (p < 0.05). However, bone health was not associated with knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding osteoporosis (p > 0.05). The present findings highlight the need of formulating osteoporosis prevention program targeting Malaysians Chinese, especially men, to improve their knowledge, health beliefs, and practice.
Highlights
Osteoporosis is a silent metabolic bone disease that can potentially cause fragility fractures, disability, and increased mortality due to weakened bone strength and reduction in bone mass [1].Worldwide, one out of three women and one out of five men will experience an osteoporotic fracture during their lifespan after the age of 50 years [2]
This study revealed that Malaysian Chinese had moderate knowledge and a high level of health beliefs regarding osteoporosis, whereby the subjects recognized their susceptibility to osteoporosis, were aware of the seriousness of osteoporosis, and the benefits of prevention or preventive activity, such as calcium intake and exercise
The present data suggest that Malaysians Chinese aged 40 years and above have moderate knowledge and high level of beliefs regarding osteoporosis
Summary
Osteoporosis is a silent metabolic bone disease that can potentially cause fragility fractures, disability, and increased mortality due to weakened bone strength and reduction in bone mass [1].Worldwide, one out of three women and one out of five men will experience an osteoporotic fracture during their lifespan after the age of 50 years [2]. The population of people over 50 years old in Asia is estimated to rise from 5.3 million in 2013 to 13.9 million in 2050 [3]. In Malaysia, it is estimated that hip fracture incidence will increase by 3.55 folds from 2018 to 2050 [5]. This will increase the economic burden to the patients, their families, and the country. A previous report estimated that the inpatient costs of hospitalization due to hip fractures in Malaysia in 1997 was 22 million ringgits (RM), and this does not include rehabilitation and nursing home costs [6]. As the median monthly household income among Malaysians was only RM 4585 [7], this represents a significant healthcare burden which the patients cannot afford
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