Self-rated health and chronic inflammation are related and independently associated with hospitalization and long-term mortality in the general population

The subjective indicator of health self-rated health (SRH) and the chronic inflammation biomarker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) are both robust predictors of healthcare use and mortality. However, the possible relationship between SRH and suPAR in the assessment of hospitalization and mortality risk is unknown. We used data from the Danish population-based Inter99 cohort to examine the association between SRH and suPAR and test their individual and combined associations with 2-year risk of acute hospitalization and 5- and 15-year mortality. SRH and serum suPAR levels were measured in 5490 participants (median age 45.1 years, 48.7% men). Poorer SRH was associated with elevated suPAR. In unadjusted analyses, SRH and suPAR were individually associated with higher risks of acute hospitalization and mortality, and both measures remained independently associated with higher risks of hospitalization and 15-year mortality after mutual adjustments. The association of suPAR with mortality was stronger in poorer SRH categories, and when combined, SRH and suPAR could identify different groups of individuals with increased risk of acute hospitalization and mortality. Both SRH and suPAR were independently associated with risk of acute hospitalization and mortality, and different combinations of the two measures could identify different groups of individuals at increased risk.