National and sub-national prevalence, trend, and burden of cardiometabolic risk factors in Iranian children and adolescents, 1990 - 2013.
BACKGROUND
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are a major health threat at the global level, notably for developing countries. The tracking of cardiometabolic risk factors from childhood to adulthood is well documented. Therefore, more attention needs to be directed at primordial and primary prevention of NCDs. Given the high prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors in Iranian population, a study was designed to determine the attributable burden of cardiometabolic risk factors in Iranian pediatric population during past decades.


METHODS
This paper explains the definitions, organization, data sources, methods of data gathering or generating, data analyses, and the trend analysis of the study. A national expert working group addressed unmet needs and offered consultations on the selection of risk factors and the practical definition of disease. In the later stages, during the course of the study, they will supervise the statistical modeling methods, the interpretation of results, and the publication strategy. Also an international expert advisory group will collaborate with the project team.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study could provide basic information regarding NCD related risk factors, and their burden and trends in children, which is necessary for health policy decisions to reduce the burden of disease and to plan cost-effective preventive strategies.
Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. f-farzadfar@tums.ac.ir.
Roya
R
Kelishadi
Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Silva
S
Hovsepian
Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Science Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Albirz University of Medical Sciences, Albors, Iran.
Mostafa
M
Qorbani
Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Fahimeh
F
Jamshidi
Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Zahra
Z
Fallah
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Science Institute.
Shirin
S
Djalalinia
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Science Institute.
Niloofar
N
Peykari
Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Delavari
Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Science Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute.
Farshad
F
Farzadfar
D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult