Self-rated health: changes, trajectories, and their antecedents among African Americans.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about changes in self-rated health (SRH) among African Americans.


METHODS
We examined SRH changes and trajectories among 998 African Americans 49 to 65 years old who we reinterviewed annually for 4 years, using multinomial logistic regression and mixed effect models.


RESULTS
Fifty-five percent had the same SRH at baseline and 4 years later, 25% improved, and 20% declined. Over time, men were more likely to report lower SRH levels, individuals with hypertension were less likely to report lower SRH levels, and those with congestive heart failure at baseline were more likely to report higher SRH levels. Lower SRH trajectory intercepts were observed for those with lower socioeconomic status, poorer health habits, disease history, and worse functional status. Those with better cognitive status had higher SRH trajectory intercepts.


CONCLUSIONS
The decline in SRH levels among 49- to 65-year-old African Americans is comparable to that of Whites.
Wolinsky
Fredric D
FD
Iowa City VA Medical Center and College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, E-205 General Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. fredric-wolinsky@uiowa.edu
Miller
Thomas R
TR
Malmstrom
Theodore K
TK
Miller
J Philip
JP
Schootman
Mario
M
Andresen
Elena M
EM
Miller
Douglas K
DK
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014481:United States