title: A comparison of objective biomarkers with a subjective health status measure among children in the Philippines.
abstract: Large health surveys use subjective (self-reported) and objective (biomarkers) measures to assess heath status. However, the linkage or disparity of these measures has not been systematically studied in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the Philippine Quality Improvement Demonstration Study, QIDS, this study evaluated the associations between General Self-Reported Health Status (GSRH) and height, weight, hemoglobin, red blood cell folate, C-reactive protein, and blood lead levels. The authors modeled each biomarker as a function of GSRH controlling for socioeconomic status and selection effects. Changes in biomarkers and GSRH in children who had previously been hospitalized were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GSRH independently predicted hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, stunting, and wasting. GSRH did not vary significantly with folate deficiency and blood lead levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to being a measure of overall child health status, GSRH may be a useful and inexpensive screening tool for identifying children that need further health testing.
authors.affiliation: University of California at San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Butrick
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Peabody
authors.forename: Orville
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Solon
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: DeSalvo
authors.forename: Stella A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quimbo
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D010679:Philippines; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007854:Lead; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005492:Folic Acid