Selected determinants of health behavior in patients with an increased risk of perioperative myocardial infarction

Abstract

Background. Perioperative myocardial ischemia can occur in any patient over 45 years of age subjected to surgery due to non-cardiac causes. Despite the fact that it worsens the prognosis, it still sometimes goes unnoticed. Objectives. Examining selected determinants of health-related behaviors in people with an increased risk of perioperative myocardial ischemia, compared to healthy subjects. Material and methods. The study group included 80 people with an increased risk of myocardial ischemia. The control group consisted of 80 healthy individuals. Five standardized research tools were used to collect data. Results. In the test group, there was a low degree of adverse health-related behaviors that may increase the risk of myocardial ischemia. There were no dominant characteristics for type A personalities. We showed a correlation between the health locus of control and health-related behaviors in the study group. Life satisfaction in the study group positively correlated with health-related behaviors. Selected determinants of health-related behaviors differentiated the studied groups to the disadvantage of the control group. Conclusions. Subjects with an increased risk of perioperative myocardial ischemia showed desirable health-related behaviors more often than the group of healthy people (control group). There is a need for health education in all age groups in order to maintain and improve the health of the entire population. In the group of healthy subjects (control group), the study showed an average level of health-related behaviors and a lack of any incentive to change it, despite a high level of self-efficacy in this group. Taking this into account, greater emphasis should be put on primary prevention in this age group.