Association Between Clinical-biological Factors and Hypertension in the Urban-rural Population of Boma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Hypertension is the main preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Knowledge and control of multiple risk factors for hypertension will reduce its prevalence, better management and therefore a reduction in the burden of disease. This study targeted other risk factors for high blood pressure in Boma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of individuals of the inhabitants of Boma aged at least 18 years living in rural and urban areas for at least one year. This study is a continuation of two previous studies. The sampling was randomized to several degrees which made it possible to select the neighborhoods, avenues, households and then adults to be examined. A total of 1,781 households were listed and 3,800 people were expected, but only 3,510 people were examined and whose blood samples were kept and biological analyzes are being carried out gradually. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software for Windows. They were expressed in mean standard deviations (SD) for continuous variables and in frequencies (n) and percentages (%) for categorical variables. The percentages were compared using the chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with hypertension. The threshold of statistical significance was set at a value of p <0.05. Results: Information from 252 first blood collection samples from Congolese adults living in Boma and over 18 years of age was included in this analysis. The mean age of the study participants was 40.9 ± 15.4 years, of which 71.4% were female. Tobacco, alcohol, diabetes mellitus, and physical inactivity were the most common histories. BMI (p = 0.001), TT (p = <0.001), TH (p = <0.001), TT/Height (p = 0.001) and Uric acid (p = <0.001) values were significantly higher in urban areas than rural. In multivariate analysis, the probability of being associated with hypertension was almost times higher, respectively, AIP≥0.24 (p = 0.357) and Smoking (p = 0.693). It was almost 2 times higher, respectively, for Age≥50 years (p = 0.007), Physical inactivity (p = 0.015), Obesity (p = 0.103). It was nearly 4 times higher, respectively, for Uric Acid> 420 mg/dl (p = 0.001) and CRP> 3 mg/dl (p = 0.015). In the end, it was 10 times higher for Subclinical atherosclerosis (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The results revealed that high blood pressure has several modifiable risk factors such as CRP, uric acid and non-modifiable.