Symptoms and Mortality in the West of Scotland Study
Author Information
Author(s): Elliott Alison M, Hannaford Philip C, Smith Blair H, Wyke Sally, Hunt Kate
Primary Institution: University of Aberdeen
Hypothesis
Summary measures of symptom experience would be better predictors of mortality than simple counts of symptoms.
Conclusion
Self-assessed health is a better predictor of mortality than the type or number of symptoms experienced.
Supporting Evidence
- Individuals with mental health symptoms had a significantly higher mortality risk.
- Self-assessed health was strongly associated with mortality.
- Mortality increased as self-assessed health became poorer.
Takeaway
Having many symptoms or mental health symptoms can mean a higher chance of dying later, but how people rate their own health is even more important.
Methodology
Participants were interviewed about symptoms and their health, and mortality was tracked over 13 years.
Potential Biases
Self-reported symptoms may not accurately reflect actual health conditions.
Limitations
Most symptoms reported were minor and self-reported data were not cross-checked with medical records.
Participant Demographics
Participants were around 58 years old, with a mix of genders and socio-economic statuses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
1.42, 1.02 to 1.97
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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