Table 3: Cardiovascular risk factors according to military rank categories. CVRF OVERALL SERVICEMEN SUBALTERN FIELD& GENERAL P N=233 & NCOS OFFICERS OFFICERS N=29 N=95 N=109 Age ≥60 years 71(30.5) 6(20.7) 24(25.3) 41(37.6) 0.078 Overweight 63(27.0) 8(27.6) 22(23.2) 33(30.3) 0.513 Obesity 27(11.6) 2(6.9) 9(9.5) 16(14.7) 0.377 Central obesity 69(29.6) 9(31.0) 18(18.9) 42(38.5) 0.009 Subclinical atherosclorisis 35(15.0) 7(24.1) 11(11.6) 17(15.6) 0.235 Morbid risk 114(48.9) 14(48.3) 41(43.2) 59(54.1) 0.286 CMR 13(44.8) 45(47.4) 66(60.6) 0.111 Hypercholesterolemia 37(15.9) 5(17.2) 11(11.6) 21(19.3) 0.316 Hypertriglyceridemia 29(12.4) 5(17.2) 8(8.4) 16(14.7) 0.290 High LDL-c 19(8.2) 1(3.4) 6(6.3) 12(11.0) 0.313 Proteinuria 68(29.2) 8(27.6) 28(29.5) 32(29.4) 0.917 CKD 77(33.0) 9(31.0) 32(33.7) 36(33.0) 0.080 DM 15(6.4) 2(6.9) 1(1.1) 12(11.0) 0.008 Data are expressed as absolute (n) and relative (in percent) frequency. DM= Diabetes mellitus; CKD= Chronic kidney disease; CMR= Cardio metabolic risk; LDLc= Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; CVRF= Cardiovascular risk factor. Table 4: Cardiovascular risk factors of the participants by ethnic group. CVRFS LUBA SWAHILI KONGO NGALA P N=51 N=58 N=62 N=50 ≥60 ans 14(27.5) 17(29.3) 16(25.8) 20(40.0) 0.388 Overweight 16(31.4) 22(37.9) 18(29.0) 6(12.0) 0.016 Obesity 4(7.8) 7(12.1) 7(11.3) 7(14.0) 0.814 Central obesity 21(41.2) 20(34.5) 14(22.6) 11(22.0) 0.014 Subclinical atherosclerosis 6(11.8) 7(12.1) 6(9.7) 13(26.0) 0.048 Hypertension 21(41.2) 26(44.8) 28(45.2) 33(66) 0.021 Mordid risk 29(56.9) 30(51.7) 26(41.9) 24(48.0) 0.451 CMR 26(51.0) 35(60.3) 32(51.6) 24(48.0) 0.595 DM 2(3.9) 6(10.3) 3(4.8) 3 (6.0) 0.553 Hypercholesterolemia 9(17.6) 9(15.5) 9(14.5) 8(16.0) 0.988 Hypertriglyceridemia 5(9.8) 9(15.5) 8(12.9) 5(10.0) 0.782 High LDL-c 3(5.9) 9(15.5) 3(4.8) 4 (8.0) 0.215 Proteinuria 15(29.4) 13(22.4) 18(29.0) 19(38).0 0.383 CKD 15(29.4) 15(25.9) 19(30.6) 24(48.0) 0.047 Data are expressed as absolute (n) and relative (in percent) frequency. DM: Diabetes mellitus; CKD= Chronic kidney disease; CMR= Cardio metabolic risk; LDLc=Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; CVRF= Cardiovascular risk factor. Determinants of high blood pressure. multiple logistic regression analysis, the Ngala ethnic and HDL cholesterol levels emerged as independent group (aOR: 3.10, 95% CI [1.30-7.37]; p = 0.011), central determinants of both systolic and diastolic BP whereas obesity (2.94, [1.56-5.77]; p = 0.001) and CKD (1.86 [1.02- age was independently associated with SBP only. These 3.44]; p = 0.041) emerged as independently correlated correlations explained 43% and 47% of variation in SBP with hypertension in these military. and DBP, respectively. DISCUSSION The observed relationships between BP and other varia- bles concur with various reports in the literature. Indeed, a The purpose of this study was to assess cardiovascular positive association of BP with age is a common finding in risk factors and identify the correlations of BP and hyper- most studies in the Congolese18-20as well as in other gene- tension among the Congolese military from the garrison ral populations.21 It was again recently demonstrated of Kinshasa. The 233 predominantly male soldiers who during the May Measurement Month 2018-DRC Campaign attended the Cardiovascular Exploration Center at Camp (MMM18-DRC) where a large sample of 18719 participants Kokolo in Kinshasa were consecutively enrolled in the were screened. Epidemiological surveys at Kinshasa and22 survey. Their BP level averaged 134.5 ± 16.5/86.1 ± 17.1 other DRC cities 18-20 have shown significant relationships mmHg and was of the same magnitude as reported for of BP with anthropometric and biological characteristics of the Chadian (130/90 mmHg)16and Ghanaian (139.5 ± the participants. In the City of Bukavu, Katchunga et al. VOL. 25.5/85.5 ± 14.2 mmHg) soldiers17. Using stepwise linear reported a linear positive correlation between BP compo- 94/3 regression analyses, W/H ratio, W/height ratio, eGFR nents and W/H ratio on one hand and eGFR on the other International Review of the Armed Forces Medical Services 89 Revue Internationale des Services de Santé des Forces Armées