Knowledge of risk factors of myocardial infarction in patients treated in the Interventional Cardiology Unit of the Regional Specialist Hospital in Biała Podlaska

Purpose: To analyse knowledge of patients in the Interventional Cardiology Department in the field of theory of the disease entity, i.e. myocardial infarction and factors predisposing to its occurrence. Materials and methods: The study was carried out at the Interventional Cardiology Department of the Regional Specialist Hospital in BiałaPodlaska between 3.11.2017 and 20.12.2017. Sixty respondents were included, 62% women and 38% men. The largest group were patients between 46 and 60 years of age. The work involved an anonymous questionnaire, which contained 28 questions, including two open ones. Patients participated in the study were informed that the study was voluntary and the questionnaire was anonymous. Results: According to the respondents, the main cause of myocardial infarction is atherosclerosis (43.4%). The respondents indicate that cardiovascular diseases (including myocardial infarction) which are on the third place in Poland, right after cancer and injuries, cause death (63.3%). As the main factor that influences the occurrence of myocardial infarction is overweight and obesity (79.8%). More than half of the respondents assess their knowledge of myocardial infarction on average, while 18.3 % said that they have very good knowledge. Conclusions: Patients with myocardial infarction have quite a good knowledge about the risk factors for this disease. A large group of respondents tries to counteract the risk factors for myocardial infarction. A small part of the respondents undergoes regular blood tests (blood glucose level, total cholesterol and its fractions, measurement of blood pressure)

Quality of life of patients with atrial fibrillation

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent arrhythmias. In Poland, there is a risk of developing AF in about 400,000 people. Atrial fibrillation occurs most frequently as a result of disorders of physiological automatism and afterdepolarization and triggered activity. The treatment strategy of AF is based on pharmacological treatment and procedures such as ablation or cardioversion. The quality of life as defined by the WHO is an individual perception of one's well-being. On the other hand, the assessment of the quality of life in illness is modified regarding health problems. Purpose: The main goal of the study was to get to know the quality of life of people with atrial fibrillation. Materials and methods: The research was carried out using a diagnostic survey, based on a survey among 100 patients diagnosed with AF. The place of the research was the Regional Specialist Hospital in Biała Podlaska, in the Emergency Department. Results: Increased morbidity was observed among women and people over the age of 60. The majority of patients with AF declared the quality of life at the medium level. The respondents most often followed medical recommendations. The majority of respondents did not follow healthy lifestyle rules, because as many as 68% of respondents did not do any physical activity and a significant part of the respondents smoked cigarettes and had an inflated BMI. Conclusion: AF affects the quality life by causing sadness, irritation and insomnia