Risk factors and circulatory system pathologies in military personnel in the Arctic region

Abstract

Considering the remoteness of the Arctic region, its harsh climatic and geographical characteristics, complex sanitary and epidemiological situation, and peculiarities of a military labor, circulatory system pathologies are expected to significantly contribute to the morbidity structure of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region. A comparative analysis of the occurrence of cardiovascular risk predictors such as: dyslipidemia, tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, negative psychosocial factors, poor diet, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, individual signs of atherosclerosis, and circulatory system diseases in the servicemen of the Arctic region, and temperate climate was performed. The results of the analysis revealed that military service in the climatic and geographic conditions of the Arctic zone is associated with a higher prevalence of the negative psychosocial factors, diet disorders, bad habits, and an arterial hypertension. Negative psychosocial factors included: stress, increased anxiety, and the depression, which are explained by the remoteness and limited communication in the Arctic region and the mainland, poor prospects for the professional career growth and high-quality training of the family members, monotony, and low availability of the leisure activities. The higher prevalence of an arterial hypertension among the arctic servicemen was caused by the newly diagnosed arterial hypertension and a history of arterial hypertension. In a significant proportion of arctic servicemen, low-density lipoprotein values exceed the target values, which ensure the prevention of the atherosclerosis and its complications. This may contribute to the development of the hypertension and coronary heart disease, and requires a more careful selection of servicemen in the Arctic region with mandatory in-depth examinations of the circulatory systems and metabolism, including the electrocardiography, echocardiography, treadmill test, ultrasonography of the brachiocephalic arteries with the determination of the thickness of the intimamedia complex, sphygmomanometer, and determination of the rigidity and biological age of the blood vessels, lipid profiling, and fasting glycemia.