Management and self-management of arterial hypertension: elements of the myocardial infarction prevention

Information for nursing staff, 2022, 55(4), 8-15.

T. Popova, I. Stambolieva, S. Georgieva

Department of Health Care, Faculty of Public Health „Prof. Dr. TsekomirVodenicharov, MD”, Medical University – Sofia

Abstract. Arterial hypertension is a signifi cant medico-social disease of essential importance for public health. To prevent future complications, it is necessary to apply a complex approach, including correction of risk factors and lifestyle changes, timely diagnosis of the disease, management and self-management of the disease. The aim of the present study was to study and analyze the presence of elevated values of arterial pressure in patients with experienced acute myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: 168 patients hospitalized in 4 university multidisciplinary hospitals with the diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction were included in the study. The research was conducted in the period August–December 2022. A sociological method was used and a structured interview was conducted. Documentary and statistical methods were also applied. The statistical processing of the data and the graphical presentation of the results were done with MS Excel 2017. Conclusions: Arterial hypertension is a serious medico-social problem, which is found in approximately 57.37% of patients with myocardial infarction. In more than a half of the respondents (50.81%), no prophylaxis was carried out before the vascular accident. Approximately 65.21% of patients with arterial hypertension and experienced myocardial infarction suff ered from high BP values for more than 10 years. There is a need to achieve a greater scope of the prevention of hypertensive disease and to develop more innovative approaches for the prevention, control and self-monitoring of blood pressure values before and after cardiovascular diseases and the complications resulting from them.

Key words: arterial hypertension, prevention, acute myocardial infarction, management, self-management

Address for correspondence: Assist. T. Popova, PhD, е-mail: t.popova@foz.mu-sofia.bg