The relationship between bone mineral density, vitamin D level, and sleep quality in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a relation-seeker type study

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between bone mineral density, vitamin D level, and sleep quality in female patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: This descriptive correlational study included a total of 318 women diagnosed with osteoporosis. The data were collected using a patient identification form, including items for the plasma vitamin D level and bone mineral density score obtained by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 56.49 +/- 5.68 years, and their femoral neck T mean score, an indicator of bone mineral density, was -2.94 +/- 0.31. Only 6.3% of the women had adequate vitamin D levels. In addition, according to their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, 85.8% of the women had poor sleep quality. In the study, no significant difference was found between the women's bone mineral densities and vitamin D levels according to sleep quality (p>0.05). However, there was a weak negative correlation between the duration of osteoporosis, body mass index, and sleep quality (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no association between the vitamin D level, bone mineral density, and sleep quality, but the duration of osteoporosis was negatively associated with sleep quality. Accordingly, it may be recommended to provide education and counseling to postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis on issues such as sunbathing, vitamin D and calcium preparation intake, weight control, and non-pharmacological treatment approaches by making necessary individual-specific plans to improve sleep quality.