Determinants of self rated health and mortality in Russia – are they the same?
2008

Determinants of Self-Rated Health and Mortality in Russia

Sample size: 11482 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Francesca Perlman, Martin Bobak

Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Hypothesis

Are the determinants of self-rated health and mortality in Russia the same?

Conclusion

The study found that while poor self-rated health is associated with higher mortality, the predictors for each outcome differ significantly.

Supporting Evidence

  • Poor self-rated health was significantly associated with mortality.
  • Low education predicted both mortality and poor self-rated health.
  • Smoking doubled the risk of death but was unrelated to subjective wellbeing.
  • Frequent drinkers experienced greater mortality than occasional drinkers.
  • Dissatisfaction with life predicted poor self-rated health but not mortality.

Takeaway

This study looked at how people in Russia rate their health and how it relates to their chances of dying. It found that feeling unhealthy can mean you're more likely to die, but the reasons for feeling unhealthy and actually dying are not the same.

Methodology

Data from 7 rounds of the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey were analyzed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analysis.

Potential Biases

Potential under-reporting of deaths and non-representative sample due to dropout rates.

Limitations

Deaths were reported by relatives, which could lead to under-reporting, and 25% of individuals left the study without explanation.

Participant Demographics

11,482 adults aged over 18, with a mix of education levels and health behaviors.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

1.36-2.10 for men, 1.38-2.20 for women

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1475-9276-7-19

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