title: Risk factor investigation for cardiovascular health through WHO STEPS approach in Ardabil, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reliable evidence is the keystone for any noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention plan to be initiated. In this study we carried out a risk factor investigation based on the WHO Stepwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 1000 adults between 15 and 64 years of age living in Ardabil province, north-west Iran during 2006, based on the WHO STEPS approach to surveillance of risk factors for NCD. At this stage only the first and second steps were carried out. Data were collected through standard questionnaires and methods analyzed using STATA version 8 statistical software package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  29.0% of men and 2.6% of women were current daily tobacco smokers. The mean number of manufactured cigarettes smoked per day was 18.9 among current daily smokers. Smoking was most prevalent among men of low-income families and those of lower education. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.6 kg/m(2), and was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure. 58.9% were overweight or obese; 18.0% had raised blood pressure and 3.7% had isolated systolic hypertension. The mean number of servings of fruit consumed per day was 1.1; 33.1% had low levels of activity. Combined risk factor analysis showed that 4.1% of participants were in the low-risk group (up to 5.1% among men and 3.2% among women). Those in the high-risk group comprised 25.6% in the 25- to 44-year age group and 49.7% in the 45- to 64-year age group. Mean BMI increased by age in both sexes at least at the first three decades of adult life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on observed status of risk for cardiovascular health, burden of cardiovascular diseases is expected to increase if an effective prevention strategy is not undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadeghi-Bazargani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jafarzadeh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hekmat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bashiri
authors.forename: G h
authors.initials: Gh
authors.lastname: Hosseingolizadeh
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Soltanmohammadzadeh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mortezazadeh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danehzan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zohouri
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nasimidoust
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malekpour
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kharazmi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babaei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadirmohammadi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mashhadi-Abdollahi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult