Age and gender differences in the relationship between self-rated health and mortality among middle-aged and elderly people in Taiwan - Results of a national cohort study
Journal
International Journal of Gerontology
Journal Volume
10
Journal Issue
2
Pages
91-95
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Abstract
Self-rated health (SRH) is known to be a valid indicator for the prediction of mortality among middle-aged and older adults, but findings regarding age and gender differences are inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the association of SRH with subsequent mortality risk among middle-aged and elderly people in Taiwan. This study was based on data from the ��Taiwan Longitudinal Survey on Aging�� (TLSA). A total of 2553 men and 2192 women aged ? 50 years of age comprised the major analytic cohort (mean age, 66.8 �� 9.1 years). SRH was categorized into good, fair, and poor health. Cox regression methods were used to examine the association between SRH and mortality. During the follow-up period (median: 10.1 years), 1644 deaths occurred. Participants with poor SRH were at higher risk of mortality [relative risk (RR), 1.35 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16�V1.55)] than those with good SRH. This SRH-mortality association was more pronounced among men (RR, 1.56, 95% CI, 1.30�V1.87) than women (RR, 1.01, 95% CI, 0.80�V1.27). The associations decreased with increasing age. The SRH-mortality associations were significant for the oldest age group among men, but among women, there was no significant SRH-mortality association across all age groups. Low SRH was associated with increased risk of mortality among middle-aged and older adults. The association varied across different age and gender groups. The association was strongest in the group of men aged 50�V59 years. The factors that might explain the differences in the associations warrant further research.
Publisher
Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Type
journal article