THE RELATIONSHIP OF SELF-RATED FUNCTION AND SELF-RATED HEALTH TO CONCURRENT FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, FUNCTIONAL DECLINE, AND MORTALITY - FINDINGS FROM THE NUN STUDY

We investigated the relationship of self-rated function (i.e., the abi lity to take care of oneself) and self-rated health to concurrent func tional ability, functional decline, and mortality in participants in t he Nun Study, a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer's disease. A total of 629 of the 678 study participants self-rated their function and health and completed an initial functional assessment in 1991-93. Survivors completed a second assessment in 1993-94. Overall, self-rate d function had a stronger relationship to functional ability at the fi rst assessment and to functional decline between the first and second assessments than did self-rated health. Self-rated function also had a stronger relationship to mortality than did self-rated health. Self-r ated function may be a better marker of global function than is self-r ated health and may be a useful addition to clinical assessment and sc ientific investigation of the relationships among function, health, an d disease.