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Subjective and objective evaluations of health among middle-aged and older veterans with hypertension.

Hong TB, Oddone EZ, Dudley TK, Bosworth HB

Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, Building 16, Room 70, 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705, USA. hong0010@mc.duke.edu

OBJECTIVE: The congruence between self-rated health and objective health was examined for associations with health factors related to hypertension (health behaviors, medication barriers, and perceived blood-pressure control). METHODS: The Charlson Comorbidity Index was cross classified with self-rated health, producing four health-congruence groups: good health realists, poor health realists, health optimists, and health pessimists. Data for this study were obtained from 588 hypertensive veterans (mean age = 63) at baseline of a clinical trial to improve blood-pressure control before randomization to an intervention. RESULTS: Optimists had higher perceived control of their hypertension when compared to pessimists. Additionally, optimists had higher levels of exercise and fewer medication barriers when compared to poor health realists. DISCUSSION: Health congruence classification could be a useful tool to alert practitioners of patients who may be having difficulties managing their hypertension.

Published 22 September 2005 in J Aging Health, 17(5): 592-608.
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