A comparison of hypertensive and nonhypertensive coronary care patients' cardiovascular responses to visitors

Article Abstract:

Patients in coronary care units (CCU - a special hospital ward for patients with heart conditions) need to have social contact with family and friends. However, a visit that causes great psychological or emotional stress may actually make the patient's condition worse. Under such conditions it is possible for the patient with a heart condition to experience chest pain (angina) and even have a heart attack. Patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease may have an even greater risk for experiencing complications. Therefore, a study was performed to determine if a social visit from a friend or family member might cause a change in the heart rate and/or blood pressure of patients in the CCU. The study included 24 patients in the CCU, 12 with hypertension and 12 without. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before, during and after a social visit from a friend or family member, and were compared with measurements made before, during and after an interview with an investigator. Blood pressure and heart rate increased in both groups of patients during both the social visit and the interview. The patients with hypertension had higher blood pressure and heart rates during both the social visit and interview than the patients who did not have hypertension. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure, however, were the same during the social visit and the interview in both groups of patients. It is concluded that the family visits were no more stressful for the patient than the interview with the investigator. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Beliefs, opinions and attitudes

---

Critical care patients' perceptions of visits

Article Abstract:

Most policies regarding patient visitors are developed based on institutional considerations with little emphasis placed on illness-related factors or personal factors. When developing the most appropriate visiting policies to promote patient recovery, patient perspectives and preferences for visitors should be considered. A study was performed to evaluate how patients in coronary care units (CCU) and surgical intensive care units (SICU) feel about having visitors. The preferred frequency of visits reflected each patient's individual preference for being with other people. Both CCU and SICU patients preferred to have three-to-four visits per day, two-to-three people per visit, with each visit lasting an average of 24 to 39 minutes. The preferred length of the visit increased with increasing age and increased as socioeconomic status decreased. The majority of the patients reported that visits were helpful and were not tiring. SICU patients reported a greater preference for having a telephone in their room than CCU patients, and the SICU patients said that they would like visitors at any time of the day or night. As the patients' perception of the severity of their illness increased, the number of preferred visits per day increased. It is suggested that visiting policies be tailored to fit the individual needs of the patient, with consideration for personal and illness-related factors. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Hospital patients, Critical care medicine

---

Cardiovascular responses to family visits in coronary care unit patients

Article Abstract:

Patients who are admitted to coronary intensive care units often find the experience extremely stressful. At times like this the support that can be provided by a patient's family can be extremely important. However, despite the value of family visits, there is concern that these visits may tax the patient. To examine the physiologic effect of family visits, a group of 24 cardiac intensive care patients were studied. Immediately prior to, during, and just after family visits the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm were monitored (with special attention to irregular heart rhythms). These physiologic measurements were compared to evaluations, which were made in a similar manner, when a clinician visited the patients to carry out an interview (the control). There was no significant difference in any of the parameters when family visits were compared to interview visits. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Testing, Family

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Relation of serum lipoprotein(a) concentration and apolipoprotein(a) phenotype to coronary heart disease in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
• Abstracts: Comparison of cefotetan plus doxycycline with cefoxitin plus doxycycline in the inpatient treatment of acute salpingitis
• Abstracts: Complexes of activated protein C with alpha 1-antitrypsin in normal pregnancy and in severe preeclampsia. Fibrinolytic parameters in normotensive pregnancy with intrauterine fetal growth retardation and in severe preeclampsia
• Abstracts: Progress in pathogenesis and management of clinical intraamniotic infection. Evidence relating bacteria vaginosis to intraamniotic infection
• Abstracts: Effectiveness of ofloxacin in the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae cervical infection. part 2

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.