Abstract
PURPOSE: This study used the Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging from 1996 to 2011 to investigate the effects of diabetes, hypertension, and healthy living behaviors of those aged over 50 years on the survival status in Taiwan. METHODS: Among the 5,131 participants aged 50 years and above in the 1996 survey were included in this study. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to examine the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and related mortality risk in those aged over 50 years. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, education level, diabetes, hypertension, health behavior, and leisure activity, results from the Cox model show that the elderly without diabetes have a lower mortality risk than those with diabetes. Regular exercise was associated with a lower risk of mortality. The hazard ratios of elderly with regular exercise were 0.78 (95 % CI: 0.64-0.96) for two times a week or less, 0.81 (95 % CI: 0.69-0.96) for 3-5 times a week, and 0.84 (95 % CI: 0.77-0.93) for 6 + times a week, respectively. On the other hand, leisure activity positively reduces mortality risk. For example, the hazard ratios of the elderly with watching TV and reading were 0.63 (95 % CI: 0.55-0.72) and 0.80 (95 % CI: 0.72-0.89), respectively. Moreover, smoking can increase mortality risk 23 % whether the elderly are with diabetes or hypertension or not. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding preventing and controlling chronic diseases in the future, continuously encouraging improvement in health behavior and engaging in leisure activities for the middle-aged and over should be considered essential markers.