title: Is there an association between disease ignorance and self-rated health? The HUNT Study, a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore whether awareness versus unawareness of thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus or hypertension is associated with self-rated health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large-scale, cross-sectional population-based study. The association between thyroid function, diabetes mellitus and blood pressure and self-rated health was explored by multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The second survey of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, HUNT2, 1995-1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  33 734 persons aged 40-70 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression was used to estimate ORs for good self-rated health as a function of thyroid status, diabetes mellitus status and blood pressure status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persons aware of their hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus or hypertension reported poorer self-rated health than individuals without such conditions. Women with unknown and subclinical hypothyroidism reported better self-rated health than women with normal thyroid status. In women and men, unknown and probable diabetes as well as unknown mild/moderate hypertension was not associated with poorer health. Furthermore, persons with unknown severe hypertension reported better health than normotensive persons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with undiagnosed but prevalent hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus and hypertension often have good self-rated health, while when aware of their diagnoses, they report reduced self-rated health. Use of screening, more sensitive tests and widened diagnostic criteria might have a negative effect on perceived health in the population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, HUNT Research Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Arnulf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langhammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, HUNT Research Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Steinar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krokstad
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Siri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forsmo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Primary Care