Self-rated health and mortality in people with diabetes

Objectives. This study examined whether self-rated health is an independent and significant predictor of mortality in people with diabetes, using data collected in the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. Methods. Participants were asked to rate their health in comparison with others their age. A proportional hazards model was used to regress survival time on self-rated health and a number of covariates measuring physical health. Results. People with younger onset diabetes (n = 891) who rated their health relative to their peers as 'worse' or 'don't know' were no more likely to die than those rating their health as 'the same' or 'better' when physical health status was controlled. In contrast, those with older onset diabetes (n = 987) who rated their health as 'worse' or 'don't know' were almost twice as likely to die as those rating their health as 'the same' or 'better' when physical health status was controlled. Conclusions. Self-rated health is a significant predictor of mortality in people with older onset diabetes but not in those with younger onset diabetes when physical health status is controlled.