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Measuring health

status

From mortality

rates to quality

of life

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

This chapter examines the different ways in which health

status has been measured from mortality rates to quality of

life. In addition, it describes the ways in which quality of life

has been used in research both in terms of the factors that

predict quality of life (quality of life as an outcome variable)

and the association between quality of life and longevity

(quality of life as a predictor).

This chapter covers:

➧ Mortality rates

➧ Morbidity rates

➧ Measures of functioning

➧ Subjective health status

➧ Quality of life measures

➧ Predicting quality of life

➧ Quality of life and longevity

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