Effectiveness of different educational models in elderly hypertensive patients with heart failure

Abstract

Design and methods. We observed 64 geriatric patients (67,3  3,9 years old) with chronic heart failure (CHF) and arterial hypertension (AH), which had been divided into 2 groups. The fi rst group included 32 patients who received classical group educational model, the second - 32 patients who were individually educated based on effective medical consulting. All patients received standard treatment of AH and CHF (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ƒ-blockers, diuretics, aldosterone antagonists and digoxin). Results. Initially less than 14 % of patients had good compliance. After 12 months of intervention, medication adherence increased to 59,4 % in I group and 87,5 % in II group. In 6 months the dynamics of clinical symptoms and functional status was positive in all groups, particularly after individual education, the difference between groups was signifi cant in 12 months. Only in II group we observed signifi cant reduction of emergency calls and extra hospital admissions due to decompensation of CHF. Conclusion. The complex approach to education of elderly patients is effective and has economic benefi ts.