The effect of self rated health on all cause mortality was examined in a community residents sample of 2,848 men and 3,534 women aged 55 years or over. who has been followed for eight years, 1985-1993. This longitudinal study, con-ducted in Kangwha County, Keanggido, began in 1985 with baseline examinations of physical and life style characteristics.
The results indicate that the self-rated health has a profound and independent effect on all cause mortality during the study period. Cox´shazard model estimates that persons with ´poor´ self-rated health has 1.7 times (CI 1.2-2.6) higher risk of all cause mortality than persons with excellent´ self-rated health and persons with ´worst´ one has 4.2 (CI 2.6-6.2) in male. Estimates for women are similar to those of men.
Further researchs to investigate the effects on cause specfic mortality and effects to reveal the work mechanism of self-rated health are highly expected.