Self-rated health is related to levels of circulating cytokines.

Objective: Self-rated health is a powerful and independent predictor of long-term health, but its biological basis is unknown. Because factors associated with poor self-rated health (eg, pain, daily discomforts, and low energy and fitness) resemble symptoms of a generalized cytokine-induced sickness response, we examined the relationship between circulating cytokines and self-rated health.

Methods: In 265 consecutive primary health care patients (174 women and 91 men), we examined self-rated and physician-rated health, circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as determined from plasma samples using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunoassay.