Awareness, Treatment and Control of Arterial Pressure in the Rural Population. Identifying Barriers to Effective Control // Осведоменост, лечение и контрол на артериалното налягане сред селското население. Бариери за контрол

The study of 'usual mean arterial pressure (AP)' revealed a disadvantage for the rural population regarding the extent of AP awareness, treatment and control. Seasonal variation in AP significantly impacts the frequency of elevated values and the degree of AP control. The degree of awareness and treatment were affected to a significantly lesser extent. A cross-sectional study representative of the rural population demonstrated a situation specific to our country: 'High prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH), high awareness, high treatment coverage, but inadequate AP control, especially in men'. AP therapy is not tailored to individual cardiovascular risk (CVR). Among high-risk hypertensive men, 40 percent did not pursue antihypertensive treatment, while 72 percent of women with borderline elevated values but a CVR of less than 5 percent pursued one. AH control in the high CVR group was only 6 percent. The most significant barriers to AP control by patients were related to patients' behaviours regarding medication and non-medication AH control and poor adherence to AH therapy. Accuracy and, consequently, control of AP were influenced by the affordability of medications and the degree of awareness regarding AH. More than half (56 percent) of treated hypertensive patients experience severe financial difficulties in securing their medications. The inadequate level of AH awareness is also driven by the ineffectiveness of the health education system regarding risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Barriers to AP control by GPs are equivalent in importance to those by patients but with more significant impact potential. Despite claiming knowledge of clinical recommendations, GPs have not adopted the practice of assessing individual cardiovascular risk and do not tailor AH therapy. The contradiction between a good understanding of the patient's problems hindering the control of AP and a passive attitude towards preventive work reveals the need to search for new approaches in health education activities.

Grantor dc:publisher

Medical University of Varna

Year dc:date

2024

Authors dc:creator

• Dokova, Klara
• Докова, Клара

• arterial pressure
• arterial hypertension
• blood pressure
• awareness
• therapy
• Управление на здравеопазването / Healthcare Management

Repository record dc:identifier

http://repository.mu-varna.bg/handle/nls/3711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.mu-varna.bg:nls/3711