Characteristics of socio-demographic and health among elderly with hypertension - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v8i4.9689

Abstract

This study described the socio-demographic characteristics and health among elderly with high blood pressure (HBP). This is a cross-sectional personal survey, conducted with 1,603 elderly residents in the urban area of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected through at home interviews, selected by proportional systematic stratified sampling technique, and submitted to descriptive analysis and chi-square test (p <0.05). Among the elderly with hypertension, 69.8% were female, 52.1% in the age of 60 ├ 70 years, 55.3% had from 1 ├ 4 years of study and income of 1 minimum wage (53.8 %), whereas 58.8% received retirement pension. On health conditions, 47.5% considered their current health as regular with no difference between genders and age groups, 94.7% were using drugs regularly. The use of drugs was higher among women from 70 to 80 years of age; 75.5% used the public health service. Men, and elderly 70 ├ 80 years were the ones to use it the most; 36.4% reported to have 4 ├ 6 co-morbidities, women and those over 80 presented a higher number; and 54.9% reported not practicing any physical activity. The number was significantly higher among women and among the higher age groups.