Experiences of elderly men regarding acute myocardial infarction

Objective: To analyze the experiences of elderly men in relation to acute myocardial infarction before, during and after clinical diagnosis. Methods: This is a descriptive and qualitative study. The research was carried out in two hospitals located in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Elderly men with a confirmed medical diagnosis for acute myocardial infarction participated in the study. Data were collected using the interview technique, guided by a semi-structured script. All speeches were recorded with authorization, transcribed in full and systematized through the Discourse of the Collective Subject. The interpretation of the data was supported in the scientific literature about acute myocardial infarction and in the theoretical framework of gender from the perspective of hegemonic masculinity. Results: The Discourse of the Collective Subject showed that the experiences of elderly men in relation to acute myocardial infarction before, during and after diagnosis were impregnated with markers of hegemonic masculinity, which prevented them from recognizing the severity of signs and symptoms and the need to seek care. The statements reveal that the entire process of illness and post-diagnosis therapy was marked by emotional conflicts, since elderly men had to adopt lifestyle changes and recognize their vulnerability. Conclusion: The findings stand out for the relevance of health professionals to understand and consider gender markers during prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, considering that they strongly influence the health care of elderly men.