title: A cohort study protocol to analyze the predisposing factors to common chronic non-communicable diseases in rural areas: Fasa Cohort Study.
abstract: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the main causes of morbidity and mortality even in rural areas of many developing countries, including Iran. In view of this increased risk, Fasa Cohort Study (FACS) has been established to assess the risk factors for NCDs with the ultimate goal of providing optimal risk calculators for Iranian population and finding grounds for interventions at the population level.
  
  
  
  In a population-based cohort, at least 10,000 people within the age range of 35 to 70 years old from Sheshdeh, the suburb of Fasa city and its 24 satellite villages are being recruited. A detailed demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, nutrition, and medical history is obtained for each individual besides limited physical examinations and determination of physical activity and sleep patterns supplemented by body composition and electrocardiographic records. Routine laboratory assessments are done and a comprehensive biobank is compiled for future biological investigations. All data are stored online using a dedicated software.
  
  
  
  FACS enrolls the individuals from rural and little township areas to evaluate the health conditions and analyze the risk factors pertinent to major NCDs. This study will provide an evidence-based background for further national and international policies in preventive medicine. Yearly follow ups are designed to assess the health events in the participating population. It is believed that the results would construct a contemporary knowledge of Iranian high risk health characteristics and behaviors as well as the platform for further interventions of risk reduction in a typical Iranian population. Constantly probing for future advances in NCDs prevention and management, the accumulated database and biobank serves as a potential for state of the art research and international collaborations.
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.|Department of Medical Pharmacology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farjam
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.|Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran. ebahramali@fums.ac.ir.|Cardiology Department, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran. ebahramali@fums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahramali
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.|Department of Medical Genetics, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.|Anesthesiology Department, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zakeri
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Homayounfar
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poustchi
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Cohort study; Developing countries; Non-communicable diseases; Risk factors