Health Compression or Expansion? Changes in the Health Status of Taiwan’s Elderly in 1993 and 2003

• Main Authors: Sz-Chi Chen, 陳思綺
• Other Authors: 林文德
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/34726020446139768205

碩士 === 長榮大學 === 醫務管理學研究所 === 97 === Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the diseases, self-perceived health and dysfunction statuses of Taiwan’s elderly in 1993 and 2003 as well as to understand the relationship between health status and average life expectancy after the expanded life expectancy enjoyed by the elderly in Taiwan. This study also cross-examines the influence of different health measurement indicators on healthy life expectancy. Material and Method This study is a retrospective longitudinal study and uses the “Survey of the Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan” and the “Survey Report of the Health and Living Status of the Middle-aged and Elderly in Taiwan” published by the Bureau of National Health Promotion in 1993 and 2003, respectively, to interview subjects who were 65 years old and above (2,962 and 2,751 subjects, respectively, were interviewed). Their health status was measured through disease (determined by whether they suffer from disease or major ones), self-perceived health, and dysfunction (judged from daily activities and daily instrumental activities). There are five age intervals, which are divided into five year periods, in the present study. In addition, Sullivan’s Life Table is applied to calculate healthy life expectancy and in the end, the percentage of healthy life expectancy of the average life expectancy is used to evaluate the health compression or expansion of the elderly in Taiwan. Results The results of the health measurements of the elderly (those who were aged 65 and above) in Taiwan in 1993 and 2003 indicate that among each age group, their healthy life expectancy and the percentage of healthy life expectancy of the average life expectancy have been in a downward trend according to health measurements for disease and self-perceived health status. In terms of the measurement of daily activities, the healthy life expectancy of each age group has been in an upward trend and the percentage of healthy life expectancy of the average life expectancy has also increased. Conclusion The measurement results of disease and self-perceived health show health compression of the elderly in Taiwan in 1993 and 2003. The functional measurements through daily instrumental activities indicate neither health compression nor health expansion.