Association between Health Literacy and Prevalence of Obesity, Arterial Hypertension, and Diabetes Mellitus

Božica Lovrić, Harolt Placento, Nikolina Farčić, Metka Lipič Baligač, Štefica Mikšić, Marin Mamić, Tihomir Jovanović, Hrvoje Vidić, Sandra Karabatić, Sabina Cviljević, Lada Zibar, Ivan Vukoja and Ivana Barać
Additional contact information
Božica Lovrić: General County Hospital Požega, 34 000 Požega, Croatia
Harolt Placento: Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
Nikolina Farčić: Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
Metka Lipič Baligač: Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
Štefica Mikšić: Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
Marin Mamić: General County Hospital Požega, 34 000 Požega, Croatia
Tihomir Jovanović: General County Hospital Požega, 34 000 Požega, Croatia
Hrvoje Vidić: General County Hospital Požega, 34 000 Požega, Croatia
Sandra Karabatić: Department of Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac”, University Hospital Center, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Sabina Cviljević: General County Hospital Požega, 34 000 Požega, Croatia
Lada Zibar: Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
Ivan Vukoja: General County Hospital Požega, 34 000 Požega, Croatia
Ivana Barać: Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Health literacy (HL) is linked to many health outcomes, including self-management of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association of health literacy with the prevalence of obesity, arterial hypertension (AH), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional, single-center study included 500 patients (42.2% male and 57.8% females; median age, 63 years (interquartile range, 42–73)) hospitalized at General County Hospital in Požega, Croatia, between July and October 2020. The Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Croatian Adults (SAHLCA-50) questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics (median with interquartile range (IQR), frequency, and percentages) and binary logistic regression were utilized. Results: Patients with AH had an inadequate level of health literacy as compared to those without AH (32 vs. 40 points; Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001). Patients with T2DM scored 31 points versus 39 points in patients without T2DM (Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001). Patients suffering from both AH and T2DM scored 31 points versus 33 points in those with either AH or T2DM and 41 points in patients without AH and T2DM (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in SAHLCA-50 scores according to the patient body mass index. Conclusions: An inadequate level of health literacy is significantly associated with AH and T2DM but not with obesity. Male gender, low level of education, rural place of residence, retirement, and older age are significant predictors of inadequate health literacy.

Keywords: arterial hypertension; obesity; diabetes mellitus; health literacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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