title: Balcova heart study: rationale and methodology of the Turkish cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Turkey is facing increasing rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study is designed to meet the growing need to obtain information about the recent status and trends of CVD risk factors and their impact on mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Balcova heart study (BHS) is a prospective cohort study, focusing on reducing the CVD risk factors of people over 30 years old living in Balcova District, Izmir, Turkey. Information about risk factors, anthropometric and biochemical measurements was collected in community centers. Interventions were planned, based on the 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and lifestyle characteristics with the collaboration of university and municipality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the 16,080 participants was 52 years. The percentage of current smoking was 41.6 in men and 31.1 in women. One-third of the men were physically inactive. Hypertension was reported as 25% in men and 33% in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The project is unique for being the first community-based cohort on CVD risk factors in a Turkish setting. This project will have a valuable contribution on not only determining CVD risks, but also incorporating interventions for prevention.
authors: Department of Public Health, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey. gul.ergor@deu.edu.tr
authors: Gül
authors: G
authors: Ergör
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Soysal
authors: Kaan
authors: K
authors: Sözmen
authors: Belgin
authors: B
authors: Ünal
authors: Reyhan
authors: R
authors: Uçku
authors: Bülent
authors: B
authors: Kılıç
authors: Türkan
authors: T
authors: Günay
authors: Alp
authors: A
authors: Ergör
authors: Yücel
authors: Y
authors: Demiral
authors: Gül
authors: G
authors: Saatlı
authors: Reci
authors: R
authors: Meseri
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Baydur
authors: Hatice
authors: H
authors: Simşek
authors: Refik
authors: R
authors: Budak
authors: Hale
authors: H
authors: Arık
authors: Nuriye
authors: N
authors: Karakuş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology