title: Factors associated with self-rated health (SRH) of a University of the Third Age (U3A) class participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A U3A is a way of making elderly people active. Our study aims to investigate the association between socioeconomic variables, selected symptoms, disorders and the SRH of participants of classes at the U3A.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 2011 in a group of participants of classes at the U3A in Plock, Poland. The authors examined 250 people aged 60 or older. A survey questionnaire was the study tool. Statistica 9.0. was used for statistical analysis, including ordinal regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Being younger (65-69) increases the chance of returning a good SRH score to over five times compared to being 75 and over (odds ratio (OR)=5.30, confidence interval (CI)=1.76-15.97), p<0.01). The chance of a good SRH score is almost four times more likely in subjects with a disposable income which satisfies basic needs compared to that which does not (OR=3.97, CI=1.12-14.04, p<0.05). Furthermore, lack of symptoms and disorders have a strong influence on good SRH (no leg edema - OR=4.06, CI=1.63-10.12, p<0.01; no headache - OR=2.75, CI=1.34-5.62, p<0.01; no toothache - OR=4.32, CI=1.12-16.68, p<0.05; no hypertension - OR=1.78, CI=1.02-3.14, p<0.05; no degenerative disease - OR=1.88, CI=1.08-3.27, p<0.05). Feeling happy raised the chance of reporting good SRH by almost three times (OR=2.91, CI=1.35-6.27, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A subjective evaluation of health by the elderly constitutes an important indicator of their health and quality of life. It can become a basis for implementing activities of gerontological prophylaxis and leveling out health inequalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Chair of Social & Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. irena.maniecka-bryla@umed.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maniecka-Bryła
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gajewska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burzyńska
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryła
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires