RT Journal
A1 Ayalon L, Covinsky KE
T1 SPouse-rated vs self-rated health as predictors of mortality
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2009
FD December 14
VO 169
IS 22
SP 2156
OP 2161
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.386
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.386
AB Background 
    The Health and Retirement Study is a national sample of Americans older than 50 years and their spouses. The present study evaluated cross-sectional and longitudinal data from January 2000 through December 2006. The objective of the study was to evaluate the roles of spouse-rated vs self-rated health as predictors of all-cause mortality among adults older than 50 years.Methods 
    A total of 673 dyads of married couples were randomly selected to participate in a Health and Retirement Study module examining spouse-rated health. For each couple, one member was asked to rate his or her overall health status, and his or her spouse was asked to report the partner's overall health status. Mortality data were available through 2006.Results 
    Our findings demonstrate that spouse-rated health (area under the curve, 0.75) is as strong a predictor of mortality as self-rated health (area under the curve, 0.73) (χ21 = 0.36, P = .54). Combining spouse-rated and self-rated health predicts mortality better than using self-rated health alone (area under the curve, 0.77) (χ21 = 6.72, P = .009).Conclusions 
    Spouse ratings of health are at least as strongly predictive of mortality as self-rated health. This suggests that, when self-rated health is elicited as a prognostic indicator, spouse ratings can be used when self-ratings are unavailable. Both measures together may be more informative than either measure alone.