What common disorders do those reporting limiting long-term illness experience, and what is their survival and health service utilization experience?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between self-reported limiting long-term illness and other disease-specific symptoms, mortality and use of hospital services.

METHODS

A cohort generated by population health survey was linked to information on mortality and health service use, in Sheffield, England, 1994-1998. Limiting long-term illness was assessed using the 1991 Census question wording; specific symptoms were assessed using standard instruments; other outcomes were admission to hospital and mortality.

RESULTS

Limiting long-term illness is stated more commonly than in the Census, especially in males and in the young. It is commoner in the presence of some conditions such as angina much more than in others such as gastrointestinal disease. For all age groups, both mortality and, to a lesser extent, hospital admission rates are higher in those responding yes to the long-term illness question.

CONCLUSIONS

Limiting long-term illness assessment from the Census acts as a better proxy for some aspects of population health than others although it may underestimate the absolute prevalence. Although it may be of use in identifying relative needs, mortality is associated more strongly with differences in limiting long-term illness than is health service utilization. This may be as much a result of mismatch between use and need as of any deficiency of the measure itself.