Self-perceived health: Relationship with chronic diseases and health risk behaviors among adult georgians

BACKGROUND: Self-perceived health status is widely used in epidemiologic studies. It is a strong predictor of population morbidity, mortality, and health service utilization. Few studies have examined the relationship between self-perceived health and health risk behaviors among Georgia adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2011 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n=9960). The relationship between self-perceived health and three health risk behaviors (physical inactivity, binge drinking, and smoking) and self–perceived health and chronic diseases (diabetes, asthma, obesity, stroke, angina, heart attack, and/or hypertension) were examined using multiple logistic regressions while adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Approximately 19% of adult Georgians perceived their health as fair/poor, 49% had at least one chronic condition and 49% also engaged in at least one health risk behavior. The odds of fair/poor self-perceived health was significantly higher among those reporting at least one chronic disease (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR=2.8; 95%CI=1.9-4.1).The odds of reporting self-perceived fair/poor health was also significantly higher among those who reported engaging in one (AOR=1.6, 95%CI=1.2-2.1) or more (AOR=2.4, 95%CI=1.6-3.5) health risk behaviors while adjusting for socio-demographic variables and chronic condition. CONCLUSIONS: Self-perceived fair/poor health was associated with the presence of chronic diseases and risky health behaviors. Public Health programs should go beyond chronic disease identification to also identify health risk behaviors that may be present among individuals reporting fair/poor health. Identifying these risky behaviors and designing public health intervention programs to address them will not only improve existing chronic conditions but prevent the development of others.