title: The effects of a comprehensive community trial on cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to assess the effects of a 6-year-long community-participatory program including school-based interventions on mean values and prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The interventions of this community trial, conducted from 2000 to 2007 in Iran, targeted the whole population (of nearly two millions) living in two cities considered as the intervention area (IA) in comparison with a reference area (RA). Data from surveys conducted before and after interventions was used to compare the differences between the secondary school students of the IA and RA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia declined significantly in girls and boys in the IA (P < 0.01). The prevalence of high LDL-C decreased significantly in the girls in the RA (P = 0.002). Among both sexes in the IA, the prevalence of low HDL-C increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas it decreased in the girls and boys in the RA (P = 0.04). Although in the IA, the prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased significantly in girls (P = 0.001), it increased in boys (P = 0.001) as well as in the girls of the RA (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By performing school-based interventions, our study was successful, at least in part, in controlling some cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Such modifications may have long-term impacts on non-communicable diseases prevention in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.forename: Noushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammadifard
authors.forename: Nizal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarrazadegan
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.forename: Rezvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pashmi
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahonar
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asgary
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boshtam
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mardani