Assessment of Health Behaviors of a Group of Myocardial Infarction Patients Admitted To Teaching Hospitals In Erbil City

Abstract

Background: Coronary arteries diseases and the ensuing myocardial infarction are among the most common causes of death in human beings in many countries around the world including Iraq. Changing health behaviors such as balancing the diet, having regular exercises, quit smoking, and stopping alcohol intake are among the solutions for preventing, caring, curing and returning the patient to the physical, mental and social status he/she had before being afflicted by the disease.

The aim of this study is to assess health behaviors of MI patients after recurrent MI attack.

Subject and Methods: it is a hospital based cross-sectional study, conducted in Erbil city involved three hundred patients that had recurrent MI attack. Data are collected from 1^st of July 2011 to 30^th of January 2012, by using questionnaire through direct interview.

Statistical analysis: Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 18 was used for data entry and analysis.

Results: The non smoker rate increased from 72.3% before MI to 89.7% after MI. There was little change in those that take alcohol before and after MI events (before MI 6.7%; after MI 5.3%). There was no significant change in number of those that did exercise (before MI 7.3%; after MI 9%).There was a significant change in food control behavior after MI event (11% before MI increased to 67.7% of patients that adopted a controlled food behavior after MI). And majority of patients have unhealthy body mass index.

Conclusion: Results provide important new information on health behavior changes among those with chronic disease (MI) and suggest that intensive efforts are required to help initiate and maintain lifestyle improvements among this population

Key words: MI, behavior, exercise, alcohol, food, BMI