This clinical review and meta-analysis examines the association between a single-item general self-rated health (GSRH) question and mortality. The study included 22 prospective community-based cohort studies published between January 1966 and September 2003, which reported all-cause mortality and GSRH responses. The results showed that compared to those reporting "excellent" health, individuals with "poor" self-rated health had a 2-fold higher risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99 [95% CI: 1.64, 2.42]). This relationship was robust across various subgroups, including gender, country of origin, and duration of follow-up. Sensitivity analyses, which adjusted for key covariates such as functional status, depression, and comorbidity, confirmed the strong association between GSRH and mortality. The study concludes that a simple, single-item GSRH question can be a valuable tool for identifying individuals at increased risk of mortality, even after controlling for important health covariates.This clinical review and meta-analysis examines the association between a single-item general self-rated health (GSRH) question and mortality. The study included 22 prospective community-based cohort studies published between January 1966 and September 2003, which reported all-cause mortality and GSRH responses. The results showed that compared to those reporting "excellent" health, individuals with "poor" self-rated health had a 2-fold higher risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99 [95% CI: 1.64, 2.42]). This relationship was robust across various subgroups, including gender, country of origin, and duration of follow-up. Sensitivity analyses, which adjusted for key covariates such as functional status, depression, and comorbidity, confirmed the strong association between GSRH and mortality. The study concludes that a simple, single-item GSRH question can be a valuable tool for identifying individuals at increased risk of mortality, even after controlling for important health covariates.