title: Self-rated health as a comprehensive indicator of lifestyle-related health status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of self-rated health (SRH) as a comprehensive indicator of lifestyle-related health status by examining the relationships between SRH and: (1) history of cancer and cardiovascular disease; (2) treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia; (3) abnormalities in clinical parameters including blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipids; and (4) lifestyle habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  3744 health-check examinees at Tokai University Hachioji Hospital seen between April 2009 and March 2010 were enrolled. SRH was graded as "good," "relatively good," "relatively poor," or "poor." For statistical comparison, the differences among "healthy" (=good), "relatively healthy" (=relatively good), and "unhealthy" (=relatively poor plus poor) groups were examined. Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios were calculated to remove the confounding effect of age, using the healthy group as the reference. The Mantel-extension method was used as a trend test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1049 subjects rated their health as good, 2194 as relatively good, 428 as relatively poor, and 73 as poor. The prevalence of all diseases showed significant odds ratios and trends as SRH deteriorated. Obesity, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and lipids deteriorated significantly as SRH became poorer, and a trend was observed in all parameters. Weight change, exercise, smoking, and rest showed significant odds ratios and trends as SRH deteriorated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRH appears useful as a comprehensive indicator of lifestyle-related health status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Health Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Chizumi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids