Five-year evaluation of chronic diseases in Hamadan, Iran: 2005-2009

Now the increasing growth of chronic diseases is the major health challenge worldwide. This survey was conducted to assess noncommunicable diseases related risk factors. A population-based cross sectional study was conducted in 2005 and repeated annually by 2009 in Hamadan province, the west of Iran using two-stage cluster sampling method. A total sample of 6500 subjects 15 to 64 years old were enrolled. The total prevalence of cigarette smoking was 18% [95% CI 17% to 19%], 35.1% in men versus 1.1% in women. The smokers consumed on average 15 cigarettes per day. Almost 26.3% [95% CI 24.8% to 27.7%] of the target population eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day; 52.8% [95% CI 51.2% to 54.3%] had work related physical activity; 28.1% [95% CI 26.7% to 29.4%] had physical activity during leisure time; 80.3% [95% CI 79.0% to 81.5%] had transportation related physical activity; 47.2% [95% CI 46.0% to 48.4%] were either overweight or obese; 8.1% [95% CI 7.1% to 9.2%] had impaired fasting blood sugar or were confirmed diabetes; 33.7% [95% CI 31.9% to 35.5%] had hypercholesterolemia; and 15.6% [95% CI 13.0% to 18.3%] had hypertriglyceridemia. There was a statistically significant association of age and gender with body mass index, systolic and diastolic hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The evidences of the present survey promise a silent progressive epidemic of chronic diseases among Iranian citizens that may lead to an increasing growth of noncommunicable diseases in the next decade

Seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV in persons referred to Hamadan Behavioral Counseling Center, West of Iran

Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] are three important prevalent infections all over the world. The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV infections and high risk behaviors in persons who referred to the behavioral counseling center of Hamadan, west of Iran. This was a cross-sectional study which was done on 379 persons who referred to the behavioral counseling center of Hamadan. All persons after obtaining the informed consent were tested for serologic markers including HBs Ag, HCV-Ab and HIV-Ab by ELISA and western blot methods. Of the 379 persons, 71.5% [271 cases] were male and 28.5% [108 cases] were female. HIV infection was reported in 4% [15] of persons. HBV and HCV infections were reported in 2.9% [11 cases] and 35.6% [135 cases], respectively. The most common high risk behaviors were injection drug user and history of prison with 52.5% [199 cases] and 40.4% [153 cases], respectively. According to the results, injection drug users and prisoners are at the highest risk for HCV, HIV and HBV infections