The Korean Data Analysis Society · Feb 28, 2026
The Association Between Living Arrangement and Osteoporosis Prevalence Among Older Adults : An Analysis of the 2023 Korean Elderly Survey
By Kim H
This study aimed to compare the sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of older adults according to living alone status and osteoporosis status using data from the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans and to identify the association between living alone and osteoporosis. The study included 9,951 older adults aged 65 years or older, and weighted cross-tabulation and logistic regression analyses were performed accounting for the complex sampling design. Differences in characteristics according to living alone status and osteoporosis status were analyzed using complex-sample cross-tabulation, and the association between living alone and osteoporosis was evaluated using sequentially adjusted complex-sample logistic regression models. The results showed that older adults living alone had higher proportions of women and individuals in older age groups, lower body mass index, lower rates of exercise participation, and more frequent feelings of fatigue than those not living alone, indicating greater overall health vulnerability; even after adjustment for these factors, living alone remained independently and significantly associated with osteoporosis prevalence (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.01–1.38). These findings suggest that living alone needs to be considered as a social factor related to bone health in older adults. The findings of this study suggest the need for osteoporosis prevention and health management interventions targeting older adults living alone and may serve as baseline data for the development of future health policies for older adults.