Is age associated with self-rated health among older people in Spain?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of age and other factors with self-rated health (SRH) in the population aged 65 years or more in the context of action for health promotion in older adults.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data used come from the household and adults questionnaires of the National Health Survey of Spain for 2006. SRH was categorized as positive (very positive or positive) and negative (fair, poor or very poor). Odds ratios for positive SRH compared to negative SRH were calculated using logistic regression models for complex samples. The determinants of the Positive SRH were obtained for the elderly population.

RESULTS: Among the population aged 65 years and older 39.7% report positive SRH. In this age group, those of 83 or more years have a better SRH. Other factors specific to this age group that improve the SRH are living alone, not having any functional dependence and high monthly family income.

CONCLUSIONS: The association between several factors (particularly age) and positive SHR in people aged 65 and older differs from the one found in the rest of the population. Understanding the factors positively associated with the positive SRH in this population is of great importance for the design of specific programmes aimed at improving the health of older people.