Low Health Literacy and Mortality in Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, and Mental Illness: A 6-Year Population-Based Follow-Up Study

Karina Friis, Anna Aaby, Mathias Lasgaard, Marie Hauge Pedersen, Richard H. Osborne and Helle Terkildsen Maindal
Additional contact information
Karina Friis: DEFACTUM, Central Denmark Region, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Anna Aaby: Department of Public Health, Section for Health Promotion and Health Services, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Mathias Lasgaard: DEFACTUM, Central Denmark Region, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Marie Hauge Pedersen: DEFACTUM, Central Denmark Region, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Richard H. Osborne: Centre for Global Health and Equity, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3025, Australia
Helle Terkildsen Maindal: Department of Public Health, Section for Health Promotion and Health Services, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-10

Abstract: Background: The objective of the study was to examine the impact of health literacy on mortality in the general population and among individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and mental illness. Methods: Data from a large Danish health survey ( n = 29,473) from 2013 were linked with national mortality registry data to permit a 6-year follow-up. Results: Individuals reporting difficulties in understanding information about health, had higher risk of dying during follow-up (hazard rate (HR) 1.38 (95% CI 1.11–1.73)) compared with those without difficulties. Higher risk was also observed among people reporting CVD (HR 1.47 (95% CI 1.01–2.14)), diabetes (HR 1.91 (95% CI 1.13–3.22)) and mental illness (HR 2.18 (95% CI 1.25–3.81)), but not for individuals with COPD. Difficulties in actively engaging with healthcare providers was not associated with an increase in the risk of dying in the general population or in any of the four long-term condition groups. Conclusions: Aspects of health literacy predict a higher risk of dying during a 6-year follow-up period. Our study serves as a reminder to healthcare organizations to consider the health literacy responsiveness of their services in relation to diverse health literacy challenges and needs.

Keywords: health literacy; mortality; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; mental illness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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