[Predictors of poor self-rated health in an elderly population]

Abstract

Introduction: Self-Rated Health is part of the comprehensive concept of Quality of Life and is a valid measurement of health status. The main objective of this study was to test the predictive value of some different variables on the poor Self-Rated Health among elders.

Material and methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on a sample consisting of 140 participants.

Measurements: age, gender, level of education, environment, cognitive status, physical impairment, diseases, health perception and social support. The influence of the studied variables on the poor Self-Rated Health was performed with a logistic regression analysis and a ROC curve to establish the cut-off values for these variables with the best sensitivity and specificity to predict the poor Self-Rated Health.

Results: A poor Self-Rated Health was significantly associated with age, comorbidity, and the perception of poor functional social support, whereas no association was found with gender, environment and educational level.

Conclusions: Old age, the number of diagnosed diseases, and functional social support are Self-Rated Health risk factors, while the characteristics and repercussions of the diseases should not be considered.

Keywords: Aging; Apoyo social; Comorbidity; Comorbilidad; Envejecimiento; Salud autopercibida; Self-Rated Health; Social support.