Authors

Najafipour is with the Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and
Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman,
Iran. Kahnooji is with the Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and
Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman,
Iran. Baneshi and Ahmadi Gohari are with the Modeling in Health Research Center,
Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences,
Kerman, Iran. Yeganeh is with the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research
Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of
Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Shadkam Farokhi is with the Endocrinology and
Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences,
Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Mirzazadeh is with the
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Kahnooji is also with the Physiology Research
Center and Department of Cardiology, Shafa Hospital, Kerman, Iran. Kahnooji
Q (kahnooji4868@gmail.com) is corresponding author 2 .

Affiliations

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

1
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences,
Kerman, Iran
2
Department of Biochemistry, Afzalipur Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3
Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4
Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
5
Department of Physiology, Afzalipur Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
6
Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
7
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Because of high prevalence of coronary artery diseases (CADs) in Iran and their relationship with low physical
activity (LPA), this study aimed to measure the epidemic size of LPA, its incidence rate, and its relationship with other CAD risk
factors in Kerman, Iran. Methods: About 10,000 adults were randomly recruited through single-stage cluster sampling.
Demographic characteristics, biochemical variables, smoking, opium use, mental status, and physical activities were assessed.
The relationship between LPA and 7 other CAD risk factors was measured. Five-year incidence rate of LPA was calculated
according to the data from the physically active participants in the first phase of the study (n = 3416) who attended the second
phase after 5 years. Results: The prevalence of low, moderate, and intense physical activity was 47.2%, 34.8%, and 18.0%,
respectively. LPA rose from 45.1% to 62.2% after the age of 25 years. Women had higher LPA than men. Participants with LPA
had significantly higher chance of cigarette smoking, diabetes, overweight/obesity, hypertension, and opium addiction. Five-year
incidence rate of LPA was 5.1 persons/100 person-years among physically active population. Conclusion: Almost half of the
studied population suffering from LPA was at risk of CAD. Such risky lifestyle pattern while worsened in the last 5 years makes
the emerging of CAD epidemic unavoidable, if appropriate timely interventions not being in place accordingly.
Keywords: 1 coronary artery disease, Kerman (Iran)