The relationship between self-rated health and health status among coronary artery patients

Objectives: This study examined the descriptive relationship of self-rated health (SRH) with various psychosocial measures, sociodemographic variables, coronary artery disease:(CAD) diagnostic/clinical measures, and medically abstracted comorbidities. Methods: The sample was 2,855 individuals from the Mediators of Social Support (MOSS) study who had at least 75% narrowing in more than one vessel, as indicated by a cardiac catheterization. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic factors; individuals who rated their health as poor/fair had significantly worse performance on all psychosocial measures and were more likely to be female, non-White, and of a lower socioeconomic status than those who rated their health as being good or better. There were few differences on SRH across various diagnostic/clinical measures of health. Discussion: A single item measure of SRH may be useful; the generalizability of the item must be considered. In this sample of CAD patients, SRH was related more to psychosocial factors than to clinical and disease indicators.