Self-rated health, associated factors and diseases: a community-based cross-sectional study of Singaporean adults aged 40 years and above.
BACKGROUND
Subjective indicators of health like self-rated health (SRH) have been shown to be a predictor of mortality and morbidity. We determined the prevalence of poor SRH in Singapore and its association with various lifestyle and socioeconomic factors and disease states.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey by interviewer-administered questionnaire of participants aged 40 years and above. SRH was assessed from a standard question and categorised into poor, fair, good or excellent. Lifestyle factors, socioeconomic factors and presence of disease states were also assessed.


RESULTS
Out of 409 participants, 27.6% rated their health as poor or fair, 53.1% as good and 19.3% as excellent. Smaller housing-type (PRR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.10- 2.44) and lack of exercise (PRR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.06-2.22) were found to be associated with poor SRH. Presence of chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease (PRR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.13-3.17), diabetes mellitus (PRR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.18-2.91), history of cancer (PRR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.05-4.41) and depression (PRR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.13-2.65) were associated with poor SRH.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence and factors associated with poor SRH in Singapore was comparable to other developed countries. SRH is an important subjective outcome of health and has the potential for wider use in clinical practice in Singapore.
Ramkumar
Aishworiya
A
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Quah
Jessica L S
JL
Wong
Teresa
T
Yeo
Lynn S H
LS
Nieh
Chih Chiang
CC
Shankar
Anoop
A
Wong
Teck Yee
TY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors