Factors determining changes in self-rated health in the Polish community-dwelling elderly

Changes in self-rated health and its determinants have been analyzed in the group of 551 community-dwelling older age citizens of Krakow during the 12-year interval observation. Multidimensional model showed that changes in self-rated health between the studies have been significantly determined by such variables like age and self-evaluation of health status in the Ist study. Self-rated health was also less markedly decreased in men, who continued professional activity in the Ist study. Among variables analyzed in the IInd study it was age-related functional disability reported by men and reported chronic conditions that deteriorated self-rated health significantly. Changes in self-rated health between the Ist and the IInd study among women were determined by the same variables as in men (except for the continuation of professional activities in the Ist study). Significantly diminished scores were found in women with higher level of functional activity in the Ist study and greater independence in performing daily activities in the IInd study. Analysis of the summary effect of chronic diseases on self-rated health has shown significantly greater deterioration of self-rated health between the first and the second study related to the number of diseases reported in the Ist study.