Non-Targeted Self-Measurement of Blood Pressure: Association with Self-Medication, Unscheduled Emergency Visits and Anxiety.

Glessiane De Oliveira Almeida,Rebeca Rocha De Almeida,Felipe J Aidar,Marcos Antonio Almeida-Santos,Juliana Santos Barbosa,Larissa Monteiro Costa Pereira,Antônio Carlos Sobral Sousa,José Augusto Soares Barreto Filho,Victor Batista Oliveira,Enaldo Vieira De Melo,Dihogo Gama De Matos,Paulo Francisco De Almeida-Neto,Suelen Maiara Dos Santos

doi:10.3390/medicina57010075

Abstract

Background and Objective: The routine practice of self-medication of blood pressure (BP) not oriented with pulse devices may not be precisely useful in the control of BP and can lead the patient to self-medicate in error. Thus, we need to evaluate the non-oriented self-assessment of BP in real-life circumstances in hypertensive patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate in hypertensive patients the association of BP self-measurement with its control, as well as the presence of anxiety disorders, the occurrence of unscheduled visits to the emergency room, and self-medication. Materials and Methods: An observational study was carried out with 1000 hypertensive volunteers (age: 61.0 ± 12.5). Using a questionnaire, sociodemographic and clinical data on BP control were collected. Anxiety was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: The group that performed non-oriented self-measurement of BP, showed that they had higher frequencies of self-medication (57.9%, p < 0.05) and more unscheduled visits to the emergency room (68%, p < 0.05). In addition, a lower level of BP control (46.8%, p < 0.05) was associated with higher levels of anxiety (52.3%, p < 0.05) in the group that performed non-oriented self-measurements of BP. Conclusion: The practice of non-oriented self-assessment of BP was associated with negative factors such as high levels of anxiety and higher frequencies of self-medication and unscheduled emergency visits.

Highlights

Systemic arterial hypertension is considered a public health problem because it is associated with a high risk of mortality [1]
blood pressure (BP) measurement is an important procedure that must be performed for any medical evaluation, regardless of specialty [20], and in view of the previous information, the main findings of this study were that patients who performed self-measurements had less control over their BP, self-medicated more frequently, had a greater presence of state anxiety and attended the emergency room more frequently because of their BP
The factors associated with non-BP control were: self-medication, unscheduled visits to the hospital, state of anxiety, prevalence of females, the presence of comorbidities, especially diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, and the use of medications for comorbidities

Summary

Introduction

Systemic arterial hypertension is considered a public health problem because it is associated with a high risk of mortality [1]. Factors such as self-medication [2], selfmeasurement and BP control influence non-adherence to treatment due to a lack of knowledge and guidance [3,4]. We need to evaluate the non-oriented self-assessment of BP in real-life circumstances in hypertensive patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate in hypertensive patients the association of BP self-measurement with its control, as well as the presence of anxiety disorders, the occurrence of unscheduled visits to the emergency room, and self-medication

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion