In this study we investigated the impact of events from an individual’s past on the risk of death for Europeans aged 50 and older, controlling for other relevant variables. Our analysis was based on the data from retrospective biographic interviews, regular longitudinal interviews, and end-of-life interviews from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. In particular, we captured retrospectively self-reported health in childhood; periods of poverty, hunger, and poor health experienced in the past; and the history of health care, including regular dental care, blood tests, and blood pressure measurements. This information, along with age, gender, current subjective and objective health, and other socio-demographic characteristics, enables assessment of the risk of death. We applied the proportional hazard model to explain the risk of death. The survival analysis shows that events experienced in the past significantly affect risk of death for Europeans aged 50 and older, controlling for other relevant variables.
