Avaliação do impacto de medidas educativas para o controle da hipertensão arterial

Abstract

Hypertension has a prevalence of 32% in the Brazilian adult population and stands out as the primary risk factor for acute myocardial infarction and stroke, which are the greatest cause of global mortality. There is a low rate of control of blood pressure levels in treated patients, with a national meta-analysis showing a control rate between 43.7% and 67.5%. Because it is a chronic disease in which most patients are asymptomatic and the presence of long-term complications causes failures in adherence to lifestyle changes or drug treatment. It is known that patient knowledge regarding the disease, its chronicity, the need for continuous treatment, and the benefits achieved with treatment can impact the control rate. The proposal was to screen uncontrolled hypertensive patients in a home environment with the support of trained health agents, using validated oscillometric sphygmomanometers for confirmation, with measurements taken three times at one-minute intervals. Control of blood pressure levels was considered effective when systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed values ower than 140/90 mmHg, respectively. Interviews were conducted by professionals from the Family Health Strategy (FHS), who were properly trained, simulating a condition that can be applied to other health units in the country. The variables investigated were gender, age, education, physical exercise, use of alcoholic beverages, smoking, medications and their duration of use, and the Morisky Therapeutic Adherence Scale. The hypertensive patients participating in the study were also questioned regarding factors capable of interfering with blood pressure control. Thus, we sought to identify the profile of non- adherent patients and recognize the factors that limit adherence to treatment, which are essential for defining public health strategies that allow for better meeting the needs of hypertensive patients with a consequent reduction in mortality, morbidity, and costs for the SUS, as a goal to change the current scenario in the context of hypertension.