Occupational categories and cardiovascular diseases incidences: a cohort study in Iranian population.

INTRODUCTION: In spite of traditional cardiovascular risk factor, the different occupations can play an important role in cardiovascular disease (CVDs) incidence. We aimed to assess the correlation between the occupational classes, based on the International Standard Classification of Occupation (ISCO), and CVDs in Iran as a developing country. METHODS: We followed the 2440 men, aged 35-65 years and without history of CVDs over fourteen years; 2001 to 2015 during the Isfahan Cohort Study. ISCO was used to classify occupations into 10 categories. Incidence rates of ischemic heart diseases and stroke were recorded. Socioeconomic demographic data including marital state, income and place of living and metabolic risk factors were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean age was 46.97 ± 8.31 years old. 272 cardiovascular events (CVEs) were recorded that unstable angina was the highest recorded with 49% prevalence and the fatal stroke had the lowest outbreak (1%). The unemployed/jobless group and elementary occupations (9th ISCO category) had higher and lower relative frequency in CVEs respectively. There was non-significant decrease in CVEs in all of categories except of 4th (clerical support workers) and 10th (armed forces) groups in comparison to unemployed/jobless subjects (P > 0.05). After considering of the group 7 as a reference group (most absolute CVEs frequency), in fully adjustment analysis group 4 had significant risk for CVEs (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that working as clerical support workers (4th ISCO category) is associated with higher significant risk for IHD and stroke incidence in comparison to craft and related trades workers (7th group of ISCO).

Evaluation of the Quit and Win contest for smoking cessation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Quit and Win is an international biannual smoking cessation contest. Although more than 70 countries participate, few are from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This study evaluated 4 Quit and Win campaigns in Isfahan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, from 1998 to 2004, documenting participation rates, self-reported 1-month and 1-year abstinence rates and related factors. Participation rates among smokers ranged from 0.7%-2.4% of the smokers in Isfahan. One-month quit rates varied from 41.8% in 1998 to 92.8% in 2004. At 1-year follow-up, self-reported quit rates varied from 22.5% in 1998 to 91.2% in 2004. This model was found to be feasible and successful in our community, and can be implemented in other low- and middle-income countries.

Evaluation of the Quit and Win contest for smoking cessation in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Quit and Win is an international biannual smoking cessation contest. Although more than 70 countries participate, few are from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This study evaluated 4 Quit and Win campaigns in Isfahan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, from 1998 to 2004, documenting participation rates, self-reported 1-month and 1-year abstinence rates and related factors. Participation rates among smokers ranged from 0.7%-2.4% of the smokers in Isfahan. One-month quit rates varied from 41.8% in 1998 to 92.8% in 2004. At 1-year follow-up, self-reported quit rates varied from 22.5% in 1998 to 91.2% in 2004. This model was found to be feasible and successful in our community, and can be implemented in other low-and middle-income countries

Cardiovascular risk factors in Iranian adults according to educational levels: Isfahan healthy heart program.

There is abundant evidence that the socioeconomic status (SES) is inversely associated with CVD risk factors. The objective of this study is to describe the distribution of CVD risk factors according to educational level in Iranian adults. A cross-sectional survey was performed on subjects over the age of 19 in three cities. Demographic data, as well as information on educational level and smoking habits was obtained and then height, weight and blood pressure measurement and blood sampling were arranged. Data was analyzed by the Mantel-Haenszel, Kendalls T correlation and multivariate analysis test. Of 9587 subjects, 48% were men and 52% were women, with mean ages of 39.0+/-15.3 and 38.8+/-14.5 years, respectively. All CVD risk factors showed an inverse relationship with educational level in all subjects, except for smoking and low HDL-C in women. High TC and LDL-C and low HDL-C were inversely related to educational level (P<0.05); however, this relationship was not significant with Mantel-Haenszel test in men. The association between CVD risk factors and educational level in women was stronger than in men. The differences found between CVD risk factors with educational level are important and should be considered in programs designed to increase level of education in order to lower CVD risk factors.

Blood pressure and associated cardiovascular risk factors in Iran: Isfahan Healthy Heart Programme.

This study was done to estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in treated and non-treated subjects with respect to age and gender and its association with other cardiovascular risk factors in Iran. This cross sectional study was performed in three cities of Iran on participants over 19 years at 2002. First a questionnaire consisting of demographic details, drug intake and smoking status was filled. Then physical examination including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip circumference (WHC) was performed. Fasting blood sample was drawn for sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) and a 2-hour postprandial glucose was also measured. In this study performed on 12494 subjects, 48% were males and 52% females. The mean age of men and women was 38.99+/-15.30 and 38.80+/-14.54 years respectively. The prevalence of high BP in men and women was 15.6% and 18.8% respectively. The prevalence of high BP was higher in women than in men, except in the younger age classes. Overall 26.7% of hypertensive men and 47.7% of hypertensive women were on anti-hypertensive pharmacological treatment. Among the treated patients, BP was under control in 6.4% of the men and 13.8% of the women. In 86.5% of men with high BP and 89.3% of women with high BP, at least one other cardiovascular risk factor was present and its prevalence increased with age in both genders. BMI >25 (especially abdominal obesity) was the most frequent associated risk factor (41.9% in male, 59% in female). Except for smoking, the prevalence of each cardiovascular risk factor increased with the severity of hypertension, except in young women. The prevalence of high BP- even in treated subjects- is high in Iran. Many subjects with high BP have at least one other associated cardiovascular risk factor. These data emphasize the necessity of implementing community-based interventions.