Included study characteristics.

Key: SRH = self-rated health; CVD = cardiovascular; CHD = coronary heart disease; MI = myocardial infarction; BMI = body mass index; AMI = acute myocardial infarction; BMI = body mass index; BP = blood pressure; SBP = systolic blood pressure; HDL = high density lipoprotein; LDL = low density lipoprotein; ADL = activities of daily living; MMSE = mini-mental state examination.*Heidrich only reported results of CVD deaths for males.£SRH Current – current health status Age comparative – compared to those of own age.$Bosworth recruited only patients with prevalent CHD or stroke respectively; Idler results reported for self-reported circulatory disorders and newly diagnosed circulatory disorders.∧Percentages not directly comparable as some studies did not report separate data for the worst category of SRH.