Subjective health in relation to aging and disease in a representative sample at ages 70, 75 and 79.

This study explores the relationship between perception of health in 70-79-year-olds and documented functional ability/disability as well as prevalence of definable disorders. Two thirds of both men and women declared themselves healthy at age 70, 2/3-3/4 at age 75 and 3/4 at age 79. Subjective health correlated significantly with the results of an extensive clinical examination for men at age 75 and for women at ages 75 and 79. In both sexes the correlation coefficients between the number of definable diseases and subjective health scoring was statistically significant as well as between mortality and subjective health. Some correlations were also found between subjective health and certain parameters of organ system functions. Contrary to objective findings, the proportion of those who declared themselves healthy was not decreasing by increasing age, and sex difference in consumption of care was not reflected in any sex difference in subjective health. The correlation between subjective health and number of disorders illustrates that the subjective health answers were influenced by knowledge obtained at previous clinical examinations and from drug prescriptions. Many elderly with functional disorders and drug treatment reported, however, that they were well. Subjective evaluation of health seemed to be markedly influenced by their willingness to accept impairment, disability and handicaps as being normal for their age.