Prevalence of hypertension in institutionalized elderly
Conference Paper
Overview
Research
Additional Document Info
View All
Overview
abstract
The high prevalence of high blood pressure and its
hard control lead the scientific community to consider this as a
public health problem. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of hypertension in elderly institutionalized in a home of senior citizens of the District of
Bragança.
A descriptive cross-sectional study performed in a senior
citizens home in the district of Bragança. The sample consisted of
67 elderly institutionalized during the month of March 2013. The
information was obtained through the records of the individual
process of the elderly during the period from 20 to 28 April. Blood
Pressure (BP) was assessed to all seniors, by one of the researchers,
with electronic vital signs monitor device, following the criteria of
the General Directorate of Health.
Results: There was a predominance of the female gender 74%, from
countryside 92.5%, and with education level read and write 47.8%.
The hypertension prevalence was 58.2%, the average systolic BP
was 132.6 mmHg, ranging between 90 and 175 mmHg and diastolic
BP averaged was 71.6 mmHg ranging between 42 and 94 mmHg.
The average heart rate was 74 beats/minute varying between
50 and 101 beats/minute. The Group of hypertensive patients
registered higher prevalence in females 74.4%, with an average age
of 84.4 years, 94.9% from countryside and 48.7% could read and
write. Concomitantly had diabetes and dementia 35.9%, congestive
heart failure 17.9% and stroke 12.8%.
We observed a high prevalence of hypertension which
justifies the need for adopting preventive measures. The adoption
of healthy lifestyles in this group is an essential component of
therapy as well as prevention of hypertension.
