Examining the relationship between self-rated health and other self-reported and physically examined indicators of health in older adults

According to Statistics Canada, the proportion of Canadians aged 65 years and over will increase rapidly. It is well documented that the prevalence of chronic conditions increases with age. Researchers and policy makers are interested in better understanding how to measure individual and population health, especially in the context of aging. This will be important for evaluating the health care system and providing guidance to improve health programs among aging population. One of the most commonly used measures of health is Self-Rated Health (SRH). SRH is a global indicator of health which reflects a person’s integrated perception of their own health. Due to its simplicity and wide spread use, it is important to understand its strengths and limitations as a measurement of health in the context of aging. Therefore, we will examine the associations and inter-relationships between SRH and other self-reported and physically examined indicators of health in older adults.