The Relationship between Self-Rated Health and Health Status among Coronary Artery Patients

Abstract

Objectives:This study examined the descriptive relationship of self-rated health (SRH) with various psychosocial measures, sociodemographic variables, coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnostic/clinical measures, and medically abstracted comorbidities. Methods:The sample was 2,855 individuals from the Mediators of Social Support (MOSS) study who had at least 75% narrowing in more than one vessel, as indicated by a cardiac catheterization. Results:After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, individuals who rated their health as poor/fair had significantly worse performance on all psychosocial measures and were more likely to be female, non-White, and of a lower socioeconomic status than those who rated their health as being good or better. There were few differences on SRH across various diagnostic/clinical measures of health. Discussion:A single item measure of SRH may be useful; the generalizability of the item must be considered. In this sample of CAD patients, SRH was related more to psychosocial factors than to clinical and disease indicators.