Authors

Hamid Najafipour, Ph.D.1*, Majid Askaripour, M.Sc.2, Ali Hosseinzadeh, M.Sc.3, Zahra Sadeghi, B.Sc.4

Affiliations

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

1. Professor of Physiology, Physiology Research Center and Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman
University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2. PhD Candidate of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman
University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3. PhD Candidate of Epidemiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology
Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4. Gasteroentrology and HepatologyResearch Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

IBackground and Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CADs) are the most important causes of mortality and
morbidity in the world and in Iran. These diseases are not completely curable but factors affecting them are
preventable. The aim of this study was investigation of CAD risk factors in four municipal regions of
Kerman city.
Methods: From the city postal codes, 250 postal codes (as clusters) were selected randomly. Research
coordinator team attended households in clusters and all the eligible members were recruited to the study.
The recruitment was continued to reach 24 subjects in each cluster. The sample size was 5900 individuals
aged from 15 to 75 years old. The prevalence of CAD risk factors including diabetes, hypertension,
overweight and obesity, low physical activity, hyperlipidaemia, cigarette and opium smoking, depression
and anxiety, oral and dental hygiene were assessed.
Results: Overweight with overall prevalence of 30.5% in the city, showed significant different prevalence
rates in four regions (region 1: 29.9%, region 2: 33.8%, region 3: 29.7% and region 4: 30.5%, P<0.001).
Overall, diabetes and hypertension had prevalence rates of 8.1% and 11.3%, both with similar distribution in
the four regions. However, in diabetic patients, the prevalence of abnormal HbA1C was 67.3%, 50.2%,
70.4% and 45.1% in regions one to four respectively (P<0.0005). The region four with 15.4% opium
consumption had the highest rank among the four regions. Depression and anxiety had the highest
prevalence in region 4 and the lowest in region 2 (P<0.01). The gingival score index was 72.6% in men and
68.1% in women with region four having the maximum prevalence of 80.1%.
Conclusion: Overall, the prevalence of CADs in Kerman is relatively high and differs based on the region.
Therefore, it is recommended that in designing educational programs for improving health behaviours, those
differences are considered. It is suggested that these educations persist on reduction of obesity, opium
consumption and improvement of mental health in region 4, on weight and LDL reduction in region 2, on
diabetes control in regions 1 and on mental health improvement in region 3.
Key words: Risk factors, Coronary artery disease, Prevalence, Municipal regions, Kerman, Iran