The contribution of chronic conditions and disabilities to poor self-ratedhealth in elderly men

Background. The aim of the study was to investigate the contribution of chr onic conditions and disabilities to poor self-rated health from the perspec tives of the patient and the population: (a) What is the impact of seven so matic chronic conditions on self-rated health, independent of disabilities? and (b) To what extent can poor self-rated health be attributed to the sel ected chronic conditions and disabilities? Methods. Data came from the 1990 (n = 509), 1993 (n = 381), and 1995 (n = 3 40) surveys of the Zutphen Elderly Study. Odds ratios (OR) and population a ttributable risks (PAR) were calculated to quantify the contribution of chr onic conditions and disabilities to poor self-rated health. Results. Rom the patient perspective, stroke was most strongly associated w ith poor self-rated health (OR = 3.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.8-6.9). Fr om the population perspective. 63% of poor self-rated health could be attri buted to the selected chronic conditions, with respiratory symptoms (28%), musculoskeletal complaints (24%), and coronary heart disease (13%) making t he largest contribution. A total of 73% could be attributed to chronic cond itions and disabilities. Conclusions. In this population of elderly men, stroke resulted in the larg est losses in self-rated health in individual patients, whereas the largest contributions to poor self-rated health in the population were made by res piratory symptoms and musculoskeletal complaints.