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Change in self-rated health and mortality among community-dwelling disabled older women
Author(s)Beth Han, Caroline Phillips, Luigi Ferrucci
Journal titleThe Gerontologist, vol 45, no 2, April 2005
Pagespp 216-221
Sourcehttp://www.geron.org
KeywordsHealth [elderly] ; Death rate [statistics] ; Older women ; Physical disabilities ; Living in the community ; Longitudinal surveys ; United States of America.
AnnotationThe US Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS) examined disabled older women (age 65+) at baseline and every 6 months for 3 years. During the follow-up period, 253 out of the 905 examined participants died. After baseline characteristics were adjusted for, baseline self-rated health was not related to mortality. After controlling for covariates at the most recent observation and covariates measured only at baseline, the most recent self-rated health was not associated with mortality either. After adjusting for time-dependent covariates and covariates measured only at baseline, decline in self-rated health was significantly associated with increased mortality. Change over time in self-rated health is a stronger predictor of mortality than self-rated health at baseline and at the most recent observation. Older women with "fair" health are worse off if they are on a declining health trajectory than if their "fair" health is stable. Family caregivers and clinicians need to closely monitor change in the self-rated health of this population. (RH).
Accession NumberCPA-051117207 A
ClassmarkCC: S5: BD: BN: K4: 3J: 7T

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