What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Arterial hypertension (n=440). Intervention: Abdominal obesity vs. No abdominal obesity. Primary outcome: Arterial hypertension (aOR 7.18, 95% CI 3.97-12.99, p=<0.001).

July 31, 2025Discover Public Health1 citationsOpen Access

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

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

The prevalence of arterial hypertension among police officers in Goma was 42.5%, and abdominal obesity was strongly associated with a higher likelihood of developing hypertension (aOR 7.18).

OMOmari MukangaKinshasa General Hospital JEJonathan Molangi EtebeKinshasa General Hospital JBJean de Dieu Murhula BaleziUniversité Officielle de Bukavu

Key Result

The prevalence of arterial hypertension among police officers in Goma was 42.5%, and abdominal obesity was strongly associated with a higher likelihood of developing hypertension (aOR 7.18).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=440)

Structured PICO

Population

440 police officers aged 20 to 79 years in the Goma garrison, Democratic Republic of Congo, were assessed for the prevalence and risk factors of arterial hypertension.

Outcome

Prevalence of arterial hypertension (defined as BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or use of hypertensive treatment) and associated risk factors

Arterial hypertension is highly prevalent (42.5%) among police officers in Goma, DRC, and is strongly associated with modifiable risk factors such as abdominal obesity, alcohol intake, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 7.18 (95% CI 3.97–12.99)

Absolute Event Rate: 74.5% vs 33.8%

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

The sample of 440 police officers may not adequately represent the entire police population of Goma.
Information on lifestyle behaviors was self-reported, exposing the study to recall bias and social desirability bias.
The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between risk factors and hypertension.
Potentially confounding variables such as socioeconomic status, detailed dietary habits, or environmental conditions may not have been adequately accounted for.
The study did not explore other important contributors such as mental health disorders, occupational stress, or access to healthcare services.

Abstract

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.

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