Evaluation of health-related behaviours of patients with lower extremity arterial disease

Aim of the study
In the case of atherosclerosis, therapeutic management depends on the advancement of the disease. The ever-present element of management in each clinical form of the disease is conservative treatment, including e.g. the elimination of risk factors for sclerosis, pharmacological treatment, and the treatment of comorbidities. The aim of the work was to evaluate the lifestyles of patients with lower extremity arterial disease and the patients’ expectations concerning health education referring to the disease and the recommended lifestyle.

Material and methods
The respondent group was composed of 50 patients with lower extremity arterial disease, of both sexes (including 61% of males), aged from 24 to 89 years. The research was carried out at the Invasive Cardiology Clinic of University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok and at the Nursing Home in Bialystok. A self-constructed survey questionnaire (including 44 questions) was used.

Results
Most of the patients did not observe the recommendations about reducing consumption of saturated fats and increasing the consumption of complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre. They did not exercise regularly, and nearly half of them smoked. Only 16% of the patients had normal BMI. The respondents wanted, among others, information on foot care, complications, symptoms, risk factors for the disease, pharmacological treatment, and rehabilitation methods.

Conclusions
Because of the high percentage of atherosclerosis complications occurring in the investigated group of patients and their failure to observe doctors’ orders concerning an appropriate lifestyle, special attention should be given to educating patients and motivating them to observe therapeutic recommendations regarding non-pharmacological treatment.