Percepção de pacientes cardiopatas sobre os efeitos da reabilitação cardíaca: estudo qualitativo

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of diseases that affect the circulatory system and represent the main cause of mortality worldwide. There are several risk factors that facilitate its onset, with sedentary lifestyles being a major contributor to the rise in this statistic, given that sedentary people have double the risk of developing heart disease. However, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by adopting an active lifestyle, with at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. At the same time, the onset of heart disease is usually sudden and comes with great frustration for sufferers, who have to adapt to the necessary lifestyle changes. In this scenario, there is a clear need for secondary prevention, which encompasses different strategies, including cardiovascular rehabilitation, which aims to improve patients' physical, mental and social conditions, enabling them to return to society as independently as possible. This research sought to understand how patients perceive the effects of cardiac rehabilitation and thus facilitate the understanding of professionals in this regard. This is a study with a qualitative methodological approach, in which data was collected through individual interviews using a semi-structured script. Eleven patients from a cardiac rehabilitation center were interviewed and, through the narratives, four units of meaning emerged, namely the diagnosis of the disease, the experiences of the disease, the exercise program and cardiac rehabilitation, including the changes after its completion. Understanding the experiences of cardiac patients showed the importance of cardiac rehabilitation in transforming their lives, highlighting not only the physical benefits, but also emphasizing the ongoing need for support and education in the management of cardiovascular diseases.