A cross-sectional study for estimation of associations between education level and osteoporosis in a Chinese men sample

Abstract

Background: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between education level and osteoporosis (OP) in general Chinese Men.

Methods: We conducted a large-scale, community-based, cross-sectional study to investigate the association by using self-report questionnaire to assess education levels. The data of 1092 men were available for analysis in this study. Multiple regression models controlling for confounding factors to include education level were performed to explore the relationship between education level and OP.

Results: Positive correlations between education level and T-score of quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS-T score) were reported (β = 0.108, P value < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that the education level was independently and significantly associated with OP (P < 0.1 for all models). The men with lower education level had a higher prevalence of OP.

Conclusion: The education level was independently and significantly associated with OP. The prevalence of OP was more frequent in Chinese men with lower education level.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02451397 ; date of registration: 05/28/2015).

Figures

Fig. 1

Comparison of T score among groups according to education level. a, The results of comparison of T-score among groups according to Model 1 (education level were categorized by group 1: primary school, group 2: junior high school, group 3: senior high school, and group 4: college). The mean T-score was −1.42, –1.30, -1.21 and −1.08 in the four groups, respectively. There were significantly differences among the four groups (P value = 0.002). b, The results of comparison of T-score among groups according to Model 2 (education level were categorized by group 1: low education level - primary school and junior high school, and group 2: high education level - senior high school and college). The mean T-score was −1.33 and −1.15 in the two groups, respectively. There were significantly differences between the two groups (P value =0.001). c, The results of comparison of T-score between groups according to Model 3 (education level were categorized by group 1: primary school, and group 2: high school and college). The mean T-score was −1.42 and −1.21 in the two groups, respectively. There were significantly differences between the two groups (P value =0.021)

Fig. 2

Comparison of prevalence of osteoporosis among groups according to education level. a, The results of comparison of prevalence of osteoporosis among groups according to Model 1 (education level were categorized by group 1: primary school, group 2: junior high school, group 3: senior high school, and group 4: college). The prevalence of osteoporosis was 17.86, 7.92, 6.35 and 9.03 % in the four groups, respectively. There were significantly differences among the four groups (P value = 0.003). b, The results of comparison of prevalence of osteoporosis among groups according to Model 2 (education level were categorized by group 1: low education level - primary school and junior high school, and group 2: high education level - senior high school and college). The prevalence of osteoporosis was 10.25 % and 7.65 % in the two groups, respectively. There were significantly differences between the two groups (P value = 0.133). c, The results of comparison of prevalence of osteoporosis between groups according to Model 3 (education level were categorized by group 1: primary school, and group 2: high school and college). The prevalence of osteoporosis was 17.86 % and 7.76 % between the two groups, respectively. There were significantly differences between the two groups (P value = 0.001)