本研究主要目的是探討台灣地區中老年人慢性病、身體功能和生活型態對其健康改變的影響。研究資料取自於「台灣地區中老年人保健與居住狀況調查J'將1999年所收集2，130位53歲(含)以上的受訪者資料，與2003年相同受訪者的健康紀錄，以機率(probit)模型分男、女性作實證分析。實證結果顯示，在其他外生變數固定下，年紀 較輕或是教育程度較高的中老年人較能維持好健康。此外，假設不考慮其他變項，本研究更提出:中風在所有慢性病中對男女性的健康影響最大。身體功能限制也同時對男女性產生顯著且負面的影響。另外，在生活型態方面，本實證結論亦發現:抽煙對男性健康沒有顯著的影響，但卻會使女性健康狀況顯著的變差;規律的運動，對男女性健康的改變都有顯著且正面的功能。故本研究結果支持慢性病、身體功能和生活型態，對中老年人在不同時期健康的改變呈現顯著的影響;此結論將有助於規劃未來在協助中老年人疾病及生活型態照顧等各項措施時的依據。

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of chronic disease， physical function， and lifestyle on health transitions among the middle-aged and older persons in Taiwan. A longitudinal design was applied to investigate whether chronic disease， physical function， and lifestyle were associated significantly with health transition in this population. Data on participants were obtained from the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Middle Aged and Elderly in Taiwan， a study initially conducted in 1999 that encompassed observations on 2，130 individuals 53 years and older. Data were collected again in 2003 to capture the health transition. A binary probit model was used to determine relationships between health transition and sociodemo graphic factors， chronic disease， physical functional ability， and lifestyle conditions by gender. Principal empirical results confirmed that. after controlling for potentially confounding variables， those participants who were latively younger and had higher education levels were more likely to maintain good health during the study period (1999-2003) for both men and women. In addition， when other factors were excluded，this article identified stroke as the ailment most strongly associated with continuing good health. Similarly， activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living demonstrated significant and negative effects on continuing good health regardless of gender. However， lifestyle rendered interesting and plausible findings. Smoking showed a significant influence on health transition for women but an insignificant influence on such for men Regular exercise showed significance for both men and women. Findings suggest that chronic disease， physical functional ability， and lifestyle variables have strong and significant influences on health transition for the middle-aged and older persons. Research results should be useful in developing strategies that target disease care services and lifestyles for the target group.