used SPSS software for Windows, version 22. Determinants of blood pressure Quantitative variables were presented as means (± SD) Simple linear correlations or medians (IQR = Interquartile range) for non gaussian ones. We compared means by Student's t tests, medians In simple linear regression analysis the observed signifi- by Mann Whitney'sU testsand proportions bycant correlation between the components of BP (SBP, Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests as appro- DBP and PP) with age (p <0.001), W (p <0.001), and priate. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to W/Height ratio (p = 0.012) was positive; it was negative compare several groups with Cheffee test for multiple with eGFR (p <0.001) (Figure 1). comparisons. To assess the independent correlations of Multiple linear correlations SBP and DBP we applied a stepwise linear regression In a multiple linear regression analysis (Table 2) age, procedure. A logistic regression analysis was used to find the determinants of hypertension in uni and mul- W/Height ratio, W/H ratio, eGFR and HDL cholesterol tivariate analysis with calculation of odd ratios (OR) levels emerged as independent determinants of SBP, and 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance explaining 42.7% of its variation. Similarly, W, W/H was a P value of 0.05 or less on two-sided tests. ratio, HR, eGFR and HDL cholesterol levels emerged as independent determinants of DBP explaining 47% of its variation (Table 2). RESULTS Table 1 presents socio-demographic, clinical and biological Hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors characteristics of the study population according to mili- Hypertension prevalence, awareness and control tary rank categories. Men (95.3%) were more represented Hypertension was observed in 114 participants (48.9%), than women (4.7%). Average age was 53.4 ± 8.9 years and with no significant difference across the military rank tended to increase from the serviceman to the categories. The Ngala ethnic group (66.0%) had higher field/general officer category (p = 0.089). The distribution proportion of hypertensive subjects in comparison to the of subjects by ethnic group was similar. Most clinical and Luba (41.2%), Swahili (44.8%) or the Kongo (45.2%). Of biological characteristics were similar except W (p = 0.003), the hypertensive subjects, 66 (57.9%) were aware of W/Height ratio (p = 0.022) and fasting blood glucose their condition and were receiving antihypertensive (p = 0.004), which were significantly higher among field treatment: monotherapy in 42 patients (63.6%) and and general officers compared to other rank categories. combined therapy in 24 patients (36.4%). Calcium Table 1: Socio-demographic, clinical and biological characteristics of participants. VARIABLES OVERALL SERVICEMEN SUBALTERN FIELD& GENERAL P N=233 & NCOS OFFICERS OFFICERS N=29 N=95 N=109 Age (years) 53.4±8.9 51.4±8.7 52.5±9.5 54.7±8.4 0.089 Sex 0.078 Male. n(%) 222(95.3) 24(82.8) 91(95.8) 107(98.2) Female. n(%) 11(4.7) 5(17.2) 4(4.2) 2(1.8) Ethnic group 0.663 Luba 51(23.1) 6(21.4) 18(19.6) 27(26.7) Swahili 58(26.2) 6(21.4) 22(23.9) 30(29.7) Kongo 62(28.1) 8(28.6) 30(32.6) 24(23.8) Ngala 50(22.6) 8(28.6) 22(23.9) 20(19.8) SBP (mmHg) 134.5±16.5 133.9±16.9 132.7±17.2 136.3±15.7 0.306 DBP (mmHg) 86.1±17.1 83.2±11.4 87.3±24.2 85.7±9.2 0.501 MBP (mmHg) 102.2±15.3 100.1±12.3 102.5±20.0 102.6±10.6 0.727 PP (mmHg) 48.5±15.4 50.7±11.4 45.4±19.6 50.6±11.2 0.539 HR (bpm) 70.9±10.3 70.9±10.9 69.7± 9.8 71.8±10.5 0.345 VO2 Max (L/minute) 1.57(1.22-1.87) 1.61(1.27-1.83) 1.22(1.11-1.64) 1.96(1.40-2.36) 0.527 BMI (Kg/m)2 25.4±11.9 23.8±4.5 23.9±4.0 27.1±16.7 0.131 W (cm) 86.6±11.9 84.5±13.1 83.9±10.7 89.4±12.1 0.003 H (cm) 100.7±56.9 93.7±11.6 94.3±8.6 108.2±82.2 0.170 W/H ratio 0.89±0.10 0.90±0.06 0.89±0.06 0.90±0.13 0.555 W/Height ratio 0.51±0.07 0.50±0.08 0.50±0.06 0.52±0.8 0.022 Creatinine (mg/dL) 1.15±0.3 1.08±0.2 1.18±0.36 1.15±0.2 0.369 Fasting glycemia (mg/dL) 93.3±19.3 92.1±15.4 88.8±12.3 97.6±23.8 0.004 Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 160.1±38.0 156.5±39.8 156.4±34.3 164.3±40.4 0.289 Triglycerides (mg/dL) 108.1±41.4 111.3±46.1 103.1±39.2 111.5±42.1 0.318 TC/HDL-c (mg/dL) 1.91±0.72 1.95±1.87 1.86±0.67 1.96±0.8 0.619 eGFR (ml/min/1.73m2) 86.6±22.2 88.7±18.3 87.1±24.9 85.5±20.8 0.760 Data are expressed as mean ± std, median (interquartile range) or absolute (n) and relative (in percent) frequency. SBP= Systolic Blood Pressure; VOL. DBP= Diastolic Blood Pressure; MBP= Mean Blood Pressure; PP= Pulse Pressure; HR=Heart Rate; bpm= beats/minute; BMI=Body Mass Index; W= Waist circumference; H= hip circumference; TC= Total cholesterol; HDLc= High density lipoprotein cholesterol; eGFR= estimated glomerular filtration rate. 94/3 International Review of the Armed Forces Medical Services 87 Revue Internationale des Services de Santé des Forces Armées