Health seeking behaviour in elderly hypertensive patients: a hospital based study

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is now widely prevalent in several dev eloping countries particularly those in rapid trans ition and is affecting both the elderly and middle aged a like. Prior studies have shown that anti-hypertensi ve drug treatment for older hypertensive persons confers highly significa nt and clinically relevant reductions in cardiovasc ular morbidity and mortality rates. Nevertheless, a considerable perce ntage of older persons with hypertension are not de tected or are not adequately treated for hypertension. Material and Methods: A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Medicine of Chirayu Medical College and Hospital, Bhopal located in central India. A pretested and pre-structured oral questionnaire was used to inter view the subjects and to collect data on demographi c characteristics, health seeking behaviour and expenditure on treatme nt for hypertension (in previously diagnosed cases) . Results: All the elderly hypertensives were visiting the doctor at l east once in a month. 80% of the hypertensives had their BP checked once in 15 days. Out of total patients, 60% reporte d that they missed at least single dose in the last one month period. 8% reported that they skipped their medicine for more than 7 days due to some reasons. Conclusion: urgent steps to improve health education and health promotion (specifically on modifiable risk factors and awareness of BP) me asures have to be made by the policy makers on a large scale.