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

作者：Hu Yu Ning; Chen Pei Chun; Hsu Chien Chi; Yu Hui Kung; Chien Kuo Liong; Li Chin Ching; Hu Gwo Chi^*

来源：International Journal of Gerontology, 2016, 10(2): 91-95.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijge.2014.08.005

• age
• gender
• mortality
• older population
• self-rated health

Background: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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), 1.16-1.55)] than those with good SRH. This SRH-mortality association was more pronounced among men (RR, 1.56, 95% CI, 1.30-1.87) than women (RR, 1.01, 95% CI, 0.80-1.27). 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.
Conclusion: 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 50-59 years. The factors that might explain the differences in the associations warrant further research.

• 出版日期2016-6