Objectives This thesis makes use of longitudinal survey data to find out the demographic and life-style risk factors affecting depression of the elderly 65 and older in Taiwan, and using the 1999 and 2003 life table data to calculate the Disability-Life-Expectancy (DLEx) causing by depression status.
Methods This research used representative panel survey 1999 and 2003 data collected in the two waves of ?The Longitudinal Sample Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan? by the predecessor organization of the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health.
After comparing with 1999 and 2003 data, we get the changes of all variables between two years and the depression distribution. It is using complete
depression scale (CES-D) data to calculate if the case had depression status or not. Mainly, we chose the cases of none-depression status in 1999 to be our research sample, and to see if some sample will be depression status in 2003 survey. Logistic-regression was used to do multivariate analysis of the risk factors of depression status. Finally, calculate the Disability-Life-Expectancy (DLEx) causing by depression status in 1999 and 2003, and the difference between two years.
Results It shows the changes of spouse, job, chronic disease, and difficulty of physical are the risk factors affecting depression of the elderly 65 and older in Taiwan. The proportion of depression status in 1999 is higher than in 2003, and the prevalence rate of depression status and the Disability-Life-Expectancy (DLEx) are increasing. Compare with male and female, female?s DELx and range of increasing is more than male.
Conclusion Depression of the elderly is getting worse and worse. The total life expectancy are increase, but living in the unhealthy status will effect the life- quality of elderly.
