Prevalence and risk factors associated with arterial hypertension among police officers at the Goma garrison, Democratic Republic of Congo: A cross-sectional study

Arterial hypertension (AH) is a Public Health problem due to its frequency and complications in our environment. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and examine its risk factors among police officers in the garrison of the city of Goma in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. A cross-sectional study was conducted among police officers in the garrison of the city of Goma in February 2020. The garrison had a strength of 3428 police officers. We used a sample of 440 police officers drawn in clusters (cells) proportional to their respective numbers. The dependent variable was hypertension among police officers. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer on the left arm, at heart level, after 4 min of relaxation in a seated position. Two consecutive measurements were taken 10 min apart, and their mean defined the officer’s BP. Hypertension was defined by a BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) or the notion of an hypertensive treatment whatever the BP. Logistic regression enabled us to find the odds ratios, 95% confidence interval and p-value. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 42.5% (95% CI 37.9–47.1%) among police officers in Goma, with 85.5% of men and 14.5% of women respectively. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of developing hypertension among police officers were age 60–79 versus 20–39 (aOR = 3.47; 95% CI 1.40–8.61; p˂0.001); seniority in the police force of more than 21 years (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.09–3.62; p = 0.024); abdominal obesity (aOR = 7.18; 95% CI 3.97–12.99; p < 0.001); alcohol intake (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.03–2.59, p = 0.035); sedentary lifestyle (aOR = 3.77; 95% CI 2.30–5.67, p < 0.001); family history of hypertension (aOR = 3.08, 95% CI 2.03–4.67, p = 0.001). The introduction of a regular programme of sports activities and stress management interventions, adherence to a healthy diet, systematic screening for high blood pressure among police officers, moderation of alcohol consumption and a ban on the consumption of highly alcoholic beverages would all help to reduce high blood pressure among Goma police officers.