Can self-rated health scores be used for risk prediction in patients with type 2 diabetes?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether self-rated health profiles compiled using the EuroQol group's visual analog scale (EQ VAS) are independent predictors of vascular events and major complications in people with type 2 diabetes after controlling for standard clinical risk factors.


METHODS
The study is based on 7,348 individuals with a mean follow-up of 2.4 years after completing the EQ-5D questionnaire. We used Cox proportional hazards modeling to estimate hazard ratios associated with EQ VAS scores after controlling for baseline covariates: age, sex, smoking status, diabetes duration, A1C, systolic blood pressure, BMI, plasma lipids, and prior clinical history.


RESULTS
A 10-point higher EQ VAS score was associated with a 6% (95% CI 1-11) lower risk of vascular events and a 22% (95% CI 15-28) lower risk of diabetes complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-rated health profiles compiled using the EQ VAS provide valuable information on patient risk in addition to that determined from clinical risk factors alone.
Hayes
Alison J
AJ
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia. alisonh@health.usyd.edu.au
Clarke
Philip M
PM
Glasziou
Paul G
PG
Simes
R John
RJ
Drury
Paul L
PL
Keech
Anthony C
AC
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D044469:Racial Groups; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin