Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Soldiers During a 6-Month Crisis Management Operation

Abstract

Previous studies have examined changes in physical fitness and incidence of musculoskeletal injuries during military operations, whereas cardiovascular health has gained less attention. PURPOSE: To determine changes in cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose) before, during and after a 6 month crisis management operation (UNIFIL). METHODS: 98 male soldiers (age 29.8±8.0 yrs., body mass 78.2±9.3 kg, BMI 24.4±2.4) participated. Blood pressure was measured in 78 soldiers, and blood samples were drawn after an overnight fast in 59 soldiers in three measurement sessions in the operation: at week 2 (PRE), 9 (MID) and 19 (POST). RESULTS: 5 % of the soldiers were hypertensive (>140/90 mmHg), and systolic (PRE: 118.1±9.0, MID: 117.7±9.6, POST: 121.6±12.5 mmHg) and diastolic (PRE: 75.0±7.6, MID: 74.7±8.3, POST: 76.7±8.2 mmHg) blood pressure increased (p<0.05) at POST compared to PRE and MID values. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were above the recommended values (5.0 mmol/l and 2.0 mmol/l) in 3 % and 10 % of the soldiers, respectively. No changes were observed during the operation. HDL concentration was below the recommended value (1.00 mmol/l) in 20 % and LDL above (3.0 mmol/l) in 35 % of the soldiers. HDL increased (p<0.05) at POST (1.29±0.29 mmol/l) compared to PRE (1.23±0.30 mmol/l) and MID (1.23±0.31 mmol/l) values, and LDL at POST (2.89±1.00 mmol/l) compared to MID (2.73±0.89) (p<0.05). Glucose concentration was above the recommended value (6.0 mmol/l) in 3% of the soldiers, and it decreased at MID (4.86±0.46 mmol/l) but increased (p<0.05) at POST (5.11±0.45 mmol/l) compared to PRE value (4.98±0.49 mmol/l). CONCLUSION: The majority of the soldiers exhibited recommended values in cardiovascular risk factors, however, even up to one third had values above the recommended level, especially, regarding to lipids and lipoproteins. The changes in selected cardiovascular risk factors during the operation were, however, rather small and indicate a little clinical significance. Nevertheless, it would be important to screen and monitor cardiovascular risk factors in soldiers also on operational settings. Thereby, further risk reduction programs could be used for those soldiers at higher risk (Supported by the Scientific Advisory Board for Defence, Finland.)