title: SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND LIFESTYLE CORRELATES OF SELF-PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF ALBANIAN ADULT MEN AND WOMEN.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Self-perceived health is considered a suitable health indicator, based on a single item asking individuals to rate their health. It has been recommended as a reliable factor to assess the population health. Several socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of self-perceived health status have been documented in different population. The aim of our study was to assess the socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates of self-perceived health status in a population-based sample of Albanian adult men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 12,554 individuals aged ≥35 years collected by the Albania Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS) 2012, which is a national population-based cross-sectional study, were analyzed. The study participants rated their health in five categories: very good, good, average, poor and very poor, which in the analyses were dichotomized into "not poor" and "poor health". Other variables included demographic characteristics, economic level, employment status, smoking and alcohol intake. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of self-perceived health with demographic and lifestyle factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon multivariate adjustment for all covariates in a backward stepwise elimination procedure, strong and significant "predictors" of poor self-perceived health status were older age (OR=3.0, 95%CI=2.4-3.7), unemployment (OR=5.6, 95%CI=4.0-7.8), male gender (OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.0-1.5), low education (OR=2.0, OR=1.3-3.0), current smoking (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.2-2.4) and alcohol abstinence (OR=1.4, 95%CI=1.1-1.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the low socioeconomic groups in Albania have a significantly lower self-perceived health status. Furthermore, smoking was a significant "determinant" of poor self-perceived health in this study population, which is compatible with previous reports from other countries.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Oncology, University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Tirana Albania; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana Albania.
authors.forename: Fatjona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kraja
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana Albania; University Clinic of Gastrohepatology, University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Tirana Albania.
authors.forename: Bledar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kraja
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana Albania.
authors.forename: Luljeta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cakerri
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Genc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burazeri
keywords: Living Standard Measurement Survey; lifestyle factors; self-perceived health; socio-demographic factors