Positive Self Rated Health in a Portuguese Population with Diabetes: Association with Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Behaviour Risk Factors Patterns

Introduction: Self-rated health (SRH) is a health measure related to mortality, healthcare services utilization and quality of life. Given that behaviour related risk factors do not occur in isolation, rather they cluster together it is important to examine their patterns in a population with diabetes to inform a more holistic approach in both health promotion and illness prevention strategies. This study explores the association between the patterns of behaviour risk factors in a Portuguese population aged 15 years and over with diabetes and their SRH. Methods: The study sample was derived from 2005/2006 Portuguese National Health Interview Survey. Associations with SHR were assessed using binary logistic regression model. SRH was categorized as positive (very good or good) and negative (fair, bad or very bad). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to classify individuals in groups of behavioural risk factors patterns. Results: Among the population with diabetes aged ≥ 15 years (226,068 valid cases), 11% reports positive SRH and 89% reports negative SRH. Men gender, younger age, higher level of education in contrast with lower education level´s, divorced and widower marital statuses in contrast with married were associated with positive SRH in the multiple logistic regression model. Physical activity and healthy diet were associated with positive SRH, after adjusting for socio demographics characteristics. Three behavioural risk factors patterns were identified: Physically inactive (83.3%), Smokers (11.2%) and Heavy drinkers (5.5%). Conclusion: The perception of health status is essential for better planning in health, thus these findings have implications for policy makers to develop specific programmes aimed at improving public health