Osteoporosis is a progressive decline in the bone mass, without alterations to the bone composition. It is associated with increased bone fragility that may eventually lead to fractures. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis is multifactorial and is affected by environmental, genetic, and hormonal influences (1).
In KSA, there is a great concern about the knowledge of osteoporosis and its risks and preventive measures. However, many studies have reported a poor knowledge score about osteoporosis (2, 3, 4).
The disease has a silent, progressive course that may present for the first time as a fracture without any previous complaints. Osteoporosis-related fractures are a real public health problem associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden, due to clinical consequences that impose substantial physical, psychosocial, and financial implications. Most women are probably unaware of the risk factors of osteoporosis, which play a crucial role in preventing its occurrence. Therefore, preventative measures such as patient education, as well as correcting misconceptions, can increase awareness about osteoporosis and consequently, reduce morbidity as well as mortality (5).
Establishing osteoporosis preventive educational programs depends on several factors, one of which is to know the level of knowledge among diseased and nondiseased populations, but particularly the second group. The other factor is to assess the method of information seeking, so that educational programs could transmit true reliable information. By understanding that, adequately designed programs would be possible (6).
Osteoporosis is commonly encountered in older women with no underlying risk factors. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is attributed only to old age.
There is strong indication that other conditions are contributing threat factors to the development of osteoporosis, indeed in a young female population. These include conditions like hyperthyroidism, celiac disease, chronic kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematous and ankylosing spondylosis. Smoking is an important adjustable risk factor as well as high alcohol input (7).
Vitamin D is essential for managing bone strength and calcium absorption. It is a significant factor considered as an additional risk for osteoporosis in countries lacking tropical weather, which is vital for vitamin D synthesis.
Other contributing factors to the development of osteoporosis are the judicious use of certain medications, known as secondary risk factors for osteoporosis. Important to mention are corticosteroids, thyroxine, antacids, and chemotherapies, especially aromatase inhibitors (8).
Osteoporosis is the most common and worldwide public health silent complaint in postmenopausal women. This complaint is a systemic disease of thin bone disease where the bones had deterioration of its micro-architecture tissue, low bone mass, fragile bones with a high liability to fractures (9, 10).
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes. This can lead to a drop in bone strength that can increase the threat of fractures (broken bones). Fractures can occur in any bone but be most frequently in bones of the hip, vertebrae in the spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis affects women and men of all races and ethnic groups. Osteoporosis can appear at any age, although the threat for developing the disease increases as you get aged. For numerous women, the disease begins to develop a year or two before menopause (11).
Aim of the study
The study aimed to assess the university females' level of knowledge about osteoporosis and to investigate the relationship between females' demographic characteristics and level of knowledge.