Is acceptance of disease and life satisfaction of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis dependent on BMI?

OBJECTIVES

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease and affects an increasing number of people in the ageing population. Due to its ‛quiet' progress, it gradually impacts on the patient's daily functioning, resulting in reduction, then abandoning of existing forms of life activities and deterioration of mental state. The aim of the study was to analyze the levels of disease acceptance and satisfaction with life in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis depending on their body mass index.

METHODS

The study included a group of 198 women, 72.3 ± 8.59 years old, diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated in two Osteoporosis Treatment Centers in the city of Lodz. The study used the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and a self-made survey.

RESULTS

The mean AIS score was 25.95 ± 10.20 points, which indicated a moderate level of acceptance and adjustment to the disease in the study group. The average level of satisfaction with life assessed on the SWLS was 19.37 ± 7.31 points and indicated moderate life satisfaction. The lowest acceptance of the disease (24.38 ± 11.3 points) was presented by underweight persons, while the lowest satisfaction with life (17.75 ± 7.50 points) was presented by overweight women. The subjects presented a mild level of pain according to the VAS scale (4.87 ± 2.39 points). The highest acceptance of the disease and satisfaction with life was presented by normal weight persons.

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of disease acceptance and satisfaction with life in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis do not differ statistically significantly depending on body mass index. It was indicated that greater acceptance of the disease was accompanied by greater satisfaction with life in people with osteoporosis. Psychological aspects (AIS, SWLS) should be an important component of the assessment of therapy effectiveness in women undergoing a long-term treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.