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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Bosworth
H B
HB
Health Services Research and Development, Durham. Hboswort@acpub.duke.edu
Siegler
I C
IC
Brummett
B H
BH
Barefoot
J C
JC
Williams
R B
RB
Vitaliano
P P
PP
Clapp-Channing
N
N
Lytle
B L
BL
Mark
D B
DB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors