Methods: The method was based on cross-sectional survey and convenient sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire assessing personal information, disease related information, health promotion lifestyle and perceived health status of each respondent. The respondents were selected from elderly people who took a health exam in a regional hospital in Taipei City in 2010 and elderly people who needed to visit the hospital for follow-up assessment or treatment of metabolic syndrome.
Results: Two hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed, and 184 valid responses were returned, resulting in a response rate of 83.6%. In health promotion lifestyle, the group of respondents without metabolic syndrome scored significantly higher than the group of respondents with metabolic syndrome (t=-2.06, p=.04). Respondents who were married, on a job, with a senior high or higher education level, and without hospitalization in recent one year scored significantly higher on health promotion lifestyle. Health promotion lifestyle was significantly and negatively correlated with age, total number of metabolic syndrome risk factors, total number of chronic disease, and was significantly and positively correlated with perceived health status. The univariate logistic regression analysis showed education level (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.24~4.30, p=.00) and health promotion lifestyle (OR=.99, 95% CI=.95~1.02, p=.04) were significant predictors of metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: For elderly people, especially for those who were less educated, more effort should be made to enhance their abilities to maintain their own health and well-being through health promotional lifestyles