title: [Health inequalities in self-perceived health among older adults in Spain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent publications have concluded that there are social health inequalities in people older than 65 years in Spain, especially among women and people with low socioeconomic status. Self-perceived health is an indicator that is related to the possibility of chronic disease, the use of health services, and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess inequalities in self-perceived health in relation to age, gender, socioeconomic factors, and functional dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA criteria. An exhaustive search was performed in PubMed, WOK, Science Direct, EMBASE, IME, Cochrane, JSTOR, Ovid, Proquest, the BMJ Group and in Spanish doctoral theses up to April 2013. The quality of the studies was assessed by two independent editors through the Berra Tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 documents were selected. These studies were in agreement in the deterioration of self-perceived health among older people (except the oldest), in those with functional dependence, lower socioeconomic status, and in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review shows that, among older people, inequalities in self-perceived health due to socioeconomic status and gender have persisted in time. Future research is needed to cast light on the factors determining the persistence of these inequalities among older people, so that specific health policies can be designed for this sector of the population.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud "Las Cortes", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España. Electronic address: morceb.vi80@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morcillo Cebolla
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Universitario "Ciudad Jardín", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Lorenzo-Cáceres Ascanio
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Navalcarnero, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domínguez Ruiz de León
authors.affiliation: UAT, Unidad Apoyo Investigación Atención Primaria, Gerencia Adjunta de Planificación y Calidad, Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud y Enfermedades Crónicas, REDISSEC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Barrientos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Torijano Castillo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D063507:Sexism; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain
keywords: Aged; Ancianos; Autoimagen; Disparidades en el estado de salud; España; Estado de salud; Health status; Health status disparities; Self-concept; Spain