Introduction
There is an increase in the elderly population due to advances in medicine. Along with this, diseases characteristic of old age are spreading. Among these diseases is hypertension, which is characterized by high blood pressure. An analysis of the demographics and epidemiology of hypertension risk or its presence among elderly patients in Texas is needed. The lack of knowledge about managing patients with hypertension forces researchers to seek new evidence-based solutions to medical practice.
Problem Overview
Current trends in an aging population are forcing the health care system to seek treatment options for Hypertension in elderly and elderly patients. The elderly population is divided into two groups: the elderly (65-79 years) and the elderly (over 80 years). Each of these groups has its blood pressure level and specific features of antihypertensive therapy management (Kothavale et al., 2022). According to America’s Health Rankings, high blood pressure is reported by up to 34.3% of adult men in Texas (America’s Health Rankings, 2021). This rate is in line with the US average but is still comparatively high.
Spending on maintaining normal BP is one of the most common in the structure of health care coverage. It is due to the breadth of the problem and the danger of the accompanying symptoms. It has been found that only about half of individuals with high BP comply with recommendations (McGaha, 2017). As a result, spending as of 2017 was 48.6 billion for the nation. Home outpatient monitoring can be a practical tool, but currently, these tactics are not widespread (Setters & Holmes, 2017). Standard treatment packages are used for treatment in Texas, but the population is not always adhering to recommendations. Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023 sets key goals for physical activity, Body Mass Index balancing, and balanced diets (2018). Nevertheless, the lack of consensus on managing high BP is forcing a search for more ways to monitor the condition and collect data.
Epidemiological and Demographic Data
This paper focuses on individuals living in Texas and their demographics. According to America’s Health Rankings (2021), as of 2019, approximately 30% of women report high blood pressure. The ethnic breakdown is as follows: white 35.8%, black 39.6%, Hispanic 25.5%, multicultural and others about 30% (America’s Health Rankings, 2021). In 63.6% of cases, people over 65 report high BP; however, the increasing trend in the younger population aged 45-64 (43.3%) is also a concern (America’s Health Rankings, 2021). Those with an income of less than $25,000 per year have a hypertension rate of 40.4%; those above $75,000 per year have only a rate of 27.6% (America’s Health Rankings, 2021). Consequently, the target risk group is men and women regardless of the nation of older, low-income individuals.
It should be determined what risks are prevalent in the target population. According to the Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023 report, only 55.8% of the population regulates their BP (2018). The report found that breastfeeding reduces risks by 15-20%, and smoking increases the risk of comorbidities by up to 25-30% (Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023, 2018). High BP was a risk for heart attack in 69% of cases (Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023, 2018). Total mortality has reached 96,000 deaths across America, and the incidence rate is 32.5% in the United States, with the highest value among states exceeding 43.8% (America’s Health Rankings, 2021). According to Vaughan et al. (2022), deaths related to arterial hypertension increased to a median of 430.1 per 100,000 in 2019. The incidence nearly doubled over the decade, from 23.2 to 43.4 per 100,000 (Vaughan et al., 2022). Such data indicate that the prevalence of hypertension affects many people who need support.
HP2020
Health People 2020 is a set of strategic goals for reducing the high incidence of cardiovascular disease. The HDS-12 goal is controlling blood pressure and hypertension (Health People, n.d.). According to HP2020 reports, the highest level of control was observed in the white non-Hispanic population (51.7% of the population over 19 years of age). Women were found to have a 34.8% higher control rate than men (Health People, n.d.). HDS-12’s objectives are conducting control education interventions, analyzing the availability of health insurance as a factor in BP control, assess maternal and child health. They also seek educational and social opportunities for individuals with hypertension.
Preventive Care and Health Promotion Overview
The following health tools are recommended for prevention and treatment. Medication and diet are essential elements of therapy that promote normal cardiovascular function on their own (America’s Health Rankings, 2021). In addition, quitting smoking has proven effective, as does increasing physical activity (Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023, 2018). Regular screening and self-monitoring can prevent serious health effects of Hypertension (Setters & Holmes, 2017). The health care system is required to implement these practices at the population level.
To do this, routine health education interventions are being created. Carey et al. (2018) note that education should occur in harmony with the environment, raising awareness in the population. It can be achieved through focus group programs: for example, for the current population, it is recommended that public health professionals be sent to areas of low economic and social status (Kothavale et al., 2022). Specialists will offer health insurance programs that allow access to care and control of BP (Health People, n.d.). The UN recommendations also include controlling diets and changing dietary perceptions by promoting low-sodium foods (WHO, 2021). Recommendations include physical wellness activities in health centers and nursing homes.
Population interventions for hypertension prevention are shaped by proper BP monitoring to reduce mortality. The 2017 US Task Forces created by the US include recommendations for ambulatory BP measurement (Carey et al., 2018) and individual BP monitoring (Setters & Holmes, 2017). In such settings, it is possible to understand the relationship between how the treatment should proceed in the context of difficulties with the nutritional and social patterns of the elderly population.
National monitoring systems as America Ranking Center or community-based observation within clinical centers are used to evaluate interventions. Records of the number of participants in educational programs in nursing homes and hospitals are used, and the frequency of physician visits is analyzed (McGaha, 2017). For dietary interventions, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension assesses the average salt and trans fat content of foods (Carey et al., 2018). The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimates hypertension awareness through surveys and insurance claims.
Conclusion
Thus, the study population (Texas, USA) is the at-risk group with arterial Hypertension. High BP most often affects men and black, low-income people. Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023 (2018) is one of the targeted programs that aims to maintain cardiovascular-related health. Because HP2020 has set goals to increase the control of Hypertension, several preventive interventions are being used. These include increasing physical activity, eating a healthy diet, extending home monitoring, and getting checkups. In addition, national centers advise against smoking and expand the educational segment.
References
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Texas Public Health Strategies CVDS 2019-2023. (2018). Texas Health and Human Resources.
Vaughan, A. S., Coronado, F., Casper, M., Loustalot, F., & Wright, J. S. (2022). County‐level trends in hypertension‐related cardiovascular disease mortality – United States, 2000 to 2019. Journal of American Heart Association, 11(7). Web.
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