Time Trends in Self-Rated Health and Disability in Older Spanish People: Differences by Gender and Age

BACKGROUND: To analyse time trends in self-rated health in older people by gender and age and examine disability in the time trends of self-rated health. METHODS: The data used come from the Spanish National Health Surveys conducted in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2011–12. Samples of adults aged 16 yr and older were selected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between age, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, disability and self-rated health across period study. RESULTS: Women exhibited lower (higher) prevalence of good self-rated health (disability) compared to men. The multivariate analysis for time trends found that good self-rated health increased from 2001 to 2012. Overall, variables associated with a lower likelihood of good self-rated health were: being married or living with a partner, lower educational level, and disability. CONCLUSION: Trends of good self-rated health differ by gender according to socio-demographic factors and the prevalence of disability.