Estratégias para adesão dos idosos hipertensos descompensados na Unidade Básica de Saúde Várzea da Onça-CE

Abstract

Decompensated systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) emerges as a significant challenge, especially among the elderly. Currently, the percentage of adults with BP greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg is higher among men and increases with age, reaching 71.7% for individuals over 70 years of age. Thus, to improve adherence to antihypertensive treatment among hypertensive elderly individuals at the Basic Health Unit (UBS) Várzea da Onça, which is part of a highly vulnerable rural district in the city of Quixadá-CE, it is necessary to adopt strategies such as effective communication, encouragement of physical activity, and monitoring, which are used to address the public health problem of hypertension in the elderly, emphasizing evidence-based care and reducing costs associated with uncontrolled treatment of hypertension. The objective was to optimize the control of hypertension in the elderly population served by the Várzea da Onça Basic Health Unit in Quixadá, Ceará. The methodological approaches used were a literature review of the Virtual Health Library, SciELO, PubMed, and Federal Government websites, as well as observation of the daily routine of the Health Unit. The situational diagnosis was obtained using the Rapid Assessment Method. To develop the Intervention Project, Situational Strategic Planning was used, a method that involves health professionals from the unit and consists of including a physical activity verification section in the hypertensive patient's notebook, effective communication in the waiting room, encouragement of physical activities, and health education. The importance of intervention mechanisms at the Várzea da Onça UBS to increase adherence to antihypertensive treatment among elderly people with uncontrolled hypertension was verified through strategies such as educational activities in waiting rooms, recreational activities, and the inclusion of a physical activity verification section in the hypertensive patient's notebook, all of which proved to be of great importance. These approaches optimized people's time while waiting for appointments, providing educational content on the importance of adherence to treatment, in addition to increasing the number of elderly people who started to perform physical activities, thus improving individuals' knowledge and awareness of their health status. Therefore, the project is expected to improve the quality of life of elderly hypertensive patients, reducing complications and costs associated with the treatment of hypertension. In addition, it is expected that the intervention project will be able to maintain adherence to antihypertensive treatment among decompensated hypertensive elderly people at the same health center through