Surveillance of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Fifth Military Sector Health Center, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon: Observational Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND NCDs are the leading cause of death worldwide. They are responsible for 38 million out of the 56 million deaths recorded worldwide. In Cameroon, epidemiological studies have been devoted to NCDs and their risk factors. However, none of them provides specific information on the extent of NCDs and/or the distribution of their risk factors within the Cameroonian defense forces. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to assess the cardiovascular risk of a Cameroonian military population and compare it to the cardiovascular risk of the neighboring civilian population. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study that involved subjects aged from 18 to 58 years, recruited from October 2017 to November 2018 at the Fifth Military Sector Health Center in Ngaoundéré. Data collection and assessment was done according to World Health Organization STEPS manual for surveillance of risk factors of Non-communicable chronic diseases; and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Five cardiovascular risk factors were assessed, smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, obesity/overweight, hypertension and diabetes. Cardiovascular risk was considered high in subjects with three or more cardiovascular risk factors. Univariates analysis and multivariate logistic regression were carried out according to their indications. RESULTS We carried out a sample of 566 subjects made up of 295 soldiers and 271 civilians of the same age (median ages: 32 years old versus 33 years old; P = .65). The military sample consisted of 31 officers and 264 non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Soldiers were more exposed to cardiovascular behavioral risk factors than civilians. Smoking: 13.90% versus 4.43%; P < .001. Excessive alcohol consumption: 61.69% versus 14.76%; P < .001. Soldiers were more likely to have a high cardiovascular risk than civilians (odd ratio [95% confidence interval] =2.70 [1.50-4.81], P < .001). Officers were more likely to have a higher cardiovascular risk than NCOs (51.61% versus 14.02%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Cameroonian soldiers are particularly exposed to cardiovascular behavioral risk factors. CLINICALTRIAL NCT04315441 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04315441