Features of the course of arterial hypertension in military servicemen in the conditions of the Аrctic region

Purpose. To study the frequency of occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors and the course of arterial hypertension in military personnel in the Arctic region.
Materials and methods. 251 male servicemen aged 23–44 years (mean age 33.7±4.9 years) were examined and studied medical records. Depending on the place of service, all the examined were divided into two groups: I — 159 military personnel serving in the Arctic, II — 92 military personnel from the Western Military District. The studied cardiovascular risk factors included dyslipidemia, tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, psychosocial factors, dietary disorders, regular alcohol consumption, physical inactivity. We also analyzed the frequency of occurrence of a confirmed diagnosis of neurocirculatory asthenia and stage I–II hypertension.
Results and its discussion. The survey showed a significant increase in the incidence of most of the studied predictors of cardiovascular risk (dyslipidemia, smoking, negative psychosocial factors, dietary disorders, and regular alcohol consumption) in the Arctic region group compared to the temperate climate group. This is realized in the form of a higher incidence of arterial hypertension and a trend towards an increase in the number of cases of generalized atherosclerosis among military personnel in the Arctic. The data obtained may indicate the need for a more thorough selection for service in the Arctic region with a mandatory in-depth examination of the circulatory and metabolic systems, including electrocardiography, echocardiography, stress treadmill test, ultrasound examination of the brachiocephalic arteries with the determination of the thickness of the intima-media complex, sphygmomanometry with the determination of the stiffness and biological age of the vessels, the study of the lipid profile and fasting glycemia. It is advisable to conduct an annual examination of the military personnel of the Arctic group at the place of service with the involvement of visiting military medical commissions, which should include a cardiologist and a specialist in functional diagnostics.