Authors

1Dayamis López Valdés, 2Argelio Hernández Pupo, 3Francisco Espinosa González, 4Joel Neyra Rodríguez, 1Diana Catalá Hernández

Position

¹Especialista de primer grado en Medicina General Integral.²Especialista de primer grado en Medicina General Integral. Profesor instructor.³Licenciado en enfermería.⁴Especialista de primer grado en Medicina General Integral. Profesor asistente.

Contact email: argelio@gibara.hlg.sld.cu

Abstract

Non-transmittable chronic diseases (NTCDs) have emerged with such a force that presently pose a severe health problem for mankind. A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was conducted with the aim of characterising hypertension in elderly individuals treated at the outpatient offices at the 12 de Octubre hospital, province of Ichilo, Municipality of Yapacani, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, during a period of time between january and july 2007. The patient population included 86 hypertensive patients. The probabilistic sample obtained by simple randomisation was composed of 54 cases. Patients were administered a questionnaire elaborated by the author in order to obtain the necessary information. The following categories were taken into account for patient characterisation: age, sex, type of hypertension according to the stages and type, risk factors, treatment type and compromise of target organs. Female gender was found to be prevalent and 15,00% of the elderly population suffers from the condition. Systo-dyastolic hypertension developed in 51,85% and obesity was present in 51,85% of cases. 27,77% of patients were found to have hypertensive retinopathy. It is recommended to increase health promotion activities aimed at controlling modifiable risk factors with a view to improve the quality of life of these patients.

Keywords:

non-transmittable chronic diseases; elderly; hypertensionrisk factors

Versión en Español

Título:

Características clínico-epidemiológicas de los ancianos hipertensos