Examining the continuity of self-rated health.

BACKGROUND The study examines whether self-rated health forms a continuum from poor through average to good health in terms of two groups of health-related variables. METHODS The data come from the 1994 Finnish Survey on Living Conditions, a representative sample of Finnish men and women aged 25 years or older (n = 7290). Logistic regression analysis was used with two dependent variables: (1) average versus good/excellent self-rated health and (2) poor versus good/excellent self-rated health. Two groups of independent variables were used: (1) risk factors and (2) ill-health indicators. Separate analyses were made for men and women controlling for sociodemographic background variables. RESULTS Of the risk factors, BMI and physical exercise were associated both with average and poor self-rated health whereas frequency of drinking was only associated with poor health. All used indicators of ill health were strongly associated with average as well as poor self-rated health. With the exception of BMI, the associations of both risk factors and ill health were stronger with poor than with average health. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that self-rated health forms a continuum from poor to good health when risk factors and indicators of ill health are considered, and that there are only minor differences in the continuity of self-rated health between men and women.