Hipertensão arterial sistêmica em idosos e a importância da educação em saúde na atenção básica

Abstract

Population ageing, with increased life expectancy and also Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH), has been outlining a new scenario in public healthcare. The current epidemiological and nutritional situation requires healthcare professionals to take measures to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and health habits, because this can in influence variables like overweight. The purpose of this paper was to investigate factors associated with SAH in elderly people from a Family Healthcare Strategy (Estratégia de Saúde da Família) in southern Brazil, in addition to healthcare education strategies on the subject for the development of material on educational awareness. First, an analytical study was conducted to describe the elderly population (N=596) of the ESF was characterized via information system used by the Municipality. For investigation of variables was made interviews with the elderly individuals were conducted in home visits, they were from random sample of the population (N=129), and questions on life habits taken from the Elderly Healthcare Booklet (Cardeneta de Saúde da Pessoa Idosa), developed by the Ministry of Health about habits, additionally, anthropometric measurements were carried out to rate nutritional status. The association of the variables with Hypertension were processed, and the results with absolute and relative frequencies. There were 87 hypertensive elderly individuals in the sample. There was association between overweight, Diabetes Mellitus and alcohol with SAH. In addition , there was limited sensitivity the questions in the Health Handbook for the Elderly to the diagnose unhealthy habits that may be contributing to the occurrence of SAH. The research reports pointed out the need for health education on the topic, and then a Systematic Review was carried out on the strategies used by health professionals to raise awareness about SAH. The scarcity of the education materials developed and validated for the elderly population is highlighted. The results of the studies were used to build an educational material aimed at the elderly population, addressing the importance of the theme, treatment and suggestions of healthy habits. The education material will be made available for validation and distribution in the Municipality in order to promote health and prevent hypertension in elderly, in order to contribute to the planning of actions in healthcare education in Primary Care, warning about the importance of healthy lifestyle habits.