Gender and Age Influences on Acute Myocardial Infarctions

Summary

Myocardial Infarctions become common with increasing age, over sixty-five especially in the male demographic. Even though cardiovascular injuries are a top concern for our geriatric population, the same sort of focus is not placed on our atypical patient population, young adults. Both men and women can experience an Acute Myocardial Infarction, however according to this study women under the age of fifty-five are more prevalent to experience the co-morbidities resulting from the injury.

Pathophysiology

Acute Myocardial Infarction refers to a condition where necrosis of heart tissue takes place secondary to poor cardiac perfusion. This issue with perfusion is commonly caused by a blockage of the coronary arteries, which results in the lack of oxygenated blood to reach an area of cardiac tissue. The acute nature of this condition mean that the infarction will take place over hours to days. Even though the timeframe for injury is quick, the patient will more than likely make a recover.

Research Study

The study was conducted over the course of one year with over thirty-five hundred patients ranging from the age of eighteen to fifty-five in over one-hundred and twenty hospitals in both the United States and Spain. Data was collected initially to provide a baseline during the study. This baseline would be used as a reference during the points that re-evaluation would occur at one month and twelve months. Data was collected using three collection methods, the Short Form-12, Euro-Quality of Life Scale and Seattle Angina Questionnaire. This collection methods measure physiological and psychological health statuses and quality of life alterations in patients with cardiovascular injuries.

Findings

The information gathered from the study showed that both men and women would recover in the relative same fashion over the course of the study. However, the data gathered showed that women were more prevalent to lower recovery scores over the year long study. Primarily this lower recovery scores were noticed in limitations resulting from the cardiovascular injury, decreases in quality of life and increased angina-like symptoms. The reason for these gender differences is not definitively identified in this study and is stated as requiring further study.

Nursing Interventions

The patient is at risk for acute pain related to acute myocardial infarction due to the reduced oxygen perfusion to the heart. Nursing interventions would include monitoring of the patient’s vital signs and pain levels, providing oxygen at a continuous rate and administering pain medications to address pain concerns. Second is the patient risk for disturbed body image caused by physical trauma. Interventions would include therapeutic communication, patient goal-orientated treatment. Finally, the patient is at risk for fear related to a recent life threating event. Required interventions would be assessing the patient’s level of fear, encourage patient involvement in care plan and provide necessary resources for patient’s continuity of care after discharge. Expected patient outcomes would be an return to base line for oxygenation and quality of life, understanding of condition to help alleviate body image disruption and reduction in patient’s level of fear concerning injury.