Authors

Hamid Najafipour a, Ghodsiyeh Banivaheb b, Abdolreza Sabahi c,*, Nasrollah Naderi d,Maryam Nasirian e, Ali Mirzazadeh f,g

Affiliations

Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

a Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran b Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran c Center for Religious Studies and Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran d Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran e Epidemiology, Center for Modeling in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran f
Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran gGlobal Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, US

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety and depression are reported as the most prevalent psychiatric disorders
worldwide. Here, we studied the prevalence of such disorders with co-morbidities of coronary artery
disease (CAD) risk factors in an urban population in Iran.
Methods: 5900 people were selected from 15 to 75-years-olds through single-stage cluster sampling. In
addition to examining them for CAD risk factors, Beck anxiety and depression inventories were used to
measure anxiety and depression symptoms. The standardized population prevalence of such disorders is
reported and the predictors of having anxiety or depression were assessed using Poisson regression
model.
Results: Overall 25.4% had moderate and 22.7% had severe anxiety. Severe anxiety significantly and
constantly increased by age groups (p = 0.01). The risk for anxiety was higher among females (Adjusted
Risk Ratio, ARR 1.2), and those who were student/soldier (ARR 1.07). Those with high level of physical
activity were at lower risk for anxiety (ARR 0.92). The risk of depression (any level) was higher among
females (ARR 1.3), those holding high-school level of education (ARR 1.41), and those who used opium
either occasionally (ARR 1.17) or frequently (ARR 1.3). Both anxiety and depression were significantly
associated with two main CAD risk factors, low physical activity and opium use.
Conclusion: We found that the majority of residents in Kerman, particularly women, are suffering from
mild to server depression and anxiety symptoms. Public health interventions to increase public
awareness on such symptoms, screening and delivery of prevention and treatment services are required
to prevent from the growing burden of such disorders and cardiovascular diseases.