Self-rated health and its relation to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in southern Germany.: Results from the MONICA Augsburg cohort study 1984-1995

PURPOSE: Studies worldwide show that self-rated health (SRH) is a robust predictor of mortality among the elderly. Only few studies have focussed on a middle-aged Population and no such study has been reported from Germany. This study examined the association between SRH and mortality in a middle-aged, Population based cohort from Germany, using data from the MONICA (Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases) Augsburg project. METHODS: The cohort comprises 1521 men and 1498 women aged 35-64; they were followed over I I years from 1984-1995. Participants provided extensive data on medical conditions and cardiovascular risk factors through interviews and examinations. SRH was assessed globally and in comparison to those of the same age. We estimated relative hazards for mortality from all-causes and cardiovascular disease according to self-ratings of health. RESULTS: Among males the adjusted hazards rate ratio (HRR) of mortality from all-causes was 1.5 (95% Cl 1.1-2.2) for combined fair/poor perceived health compared with good/excellent health. Women with fair/poor ratings had no) increased risk of dying (HRR = 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.9). Men who perceived worse health than persons of the same age showed an adjusted HRR of 1.7 (95% Cl 1.0-2.9) as compared to those perceiving better health; in women the adjusted HRR was 1.9 (95% Cl 1.0-3.7). The adjusted hazards for dying from cardiovascular diseases in men were 1.3 (95% CI 0.8-2.1) for those perceiving fair/ poor and 1.7 (95% Cl 0.7-3.7) for those perceiving worse health. CONCLUSIONS: Self-Fated health was a predictor of mortality in a middle-aged German population and contains information that is not entirely reflected in underlying medical conditions and risk factors. Self-assessments of health in comparison to individuals of the same age were stronger and more consistently associated with mortality. Global self-ratings of health and self-ratings in comparison to those of the same age may measure slightly different dimensions and the effect of self-rated health may differ among men and women. Ann Epidemiol 2002;12:338-345. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.