SELF-RATED HEALTH AND MORTALITY IN A LITHUANIAN AND A DUTCH POPULATION

The hypothesis that the evaluation of one's health as poor is associat ed with mortality, independent of the results of a standardized medica l examination, was tested in the Kaunas-Rotterdam Follow-Up Study. In this study two cohorts, one consisting of 2452 Lithuanian males and on e of 3365 Dutch males, aged 45-60, were screened for cardiovascular ri sk factors in 1973, using identical protocols, and were followed for a bout ten years. Self-rated health was assessed by two direct questions : 'How would you assess your own health?' and 'What do you think of yo ur own health compared to that of other men of your age?' as well as b y a Semantic Differential Test of 'My Health'. In both cohorts a negat ive evaluation of one's health was associated with mortality, controll ing for past or present heart disease, cardiovascular risk factors, pa rental life span, socio-economic and marital status. Especially the da ta with regard to the comparative question indicate that self-rated he alth is associated with mortality in men living in two different socio -cultural systems. The data suggest that a weak sense of mastery may e xplain the association between health perception and mortality.