Abstract

PEREZ PUPO, Randy David  and  RODRIGUEZ LAZO, Marisol. Level of Knowledge on Hypertension in Patients Attended at an Integral Diagnosis Center of Venezuela. ccm [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.3, pp. 406-417. ISSN 1560-4381.

Introduction: hypertension is a major public health problem in Venezuela. Objectives: to identify the knowledge about hypertension and characterize the study population according to age, sex, level of knowledge on hypertension, its risk factors and measures to control the disease. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in patients attended  between January and July 2011 at the Diagnosis Center of  La Sierrita, Mara municipality , Zulia State, Venezuela.  The universe consisted of 202 patients and the sample was of 146. An anonymous questionnaire was applied on the hypertension knowledge the patients   should have on their illness. Results: there was prevalence of patients over 65 years old (32.19 %). Of the studied patients, 52.74 % was female, 54.48 % knew about hypertension, nevertheless 52.74 % of them showed moderate knowledge on the chronic course of the disease.  The 67.80 % of patients (99) recognized family history of hypertension as a predisposing factor, in addition, they distinguished obesity with 112 (76.71 %), physical inactivity 105 (71.91 %) and smoking with 88 patients (60.27 %). The 58.22 % submitted the treatment. Most patients identified among the measures of control of hypertension, weight control with 76.71 %, the practice of physical exercises (71.91 %) the elimination of toxic habits (60.27 %) and disposal of stress (51.37 %). Conclusions:  hypertension predominated in patients older than 65 without gender differences. Most patients required major risk factors for hypertension, met the prescribed treatment and basic measures to control this disease

Keywords : hypertension; sedentary life; obesity.

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