Impact on clinical outcomes and use of healthcare services
Limited (functional) health literacy is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and premature death in older adults independent of age, socioeconomic position, cognitive function and pre-existing illness.8 31 62-66 It is also more common among people with diabetes,10 14 15 depression,16 stroke,6 and heart,10 17 kidney18 and musculoskeletal disease.19 20 People with low health literacy are less likely to successfully manage long-term conditions67 and 1.5-3 times more likely to experience increased hospitalisation or death than more health-literate people.68
Strategies to improve health literacy can help to build resilience among individuals and communities.29 For example, community members can benefit from community