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. 2018 May 25;18(1):660.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5364-2.

The protocol of a population-based prospective cohort study in southwest of Iran to analyze common non-communicable diseases: Shahrekord cohort study

Arsalan Khaledifar  1 , Morteza Hashemzadeh  2 , Kamal Solati  1 , Hosseion Poustchi  3 , Valentina Bollati  4 , Ali Ahmadi  5 , Soleiman Kheiri  1 , Keihan Ghatreh Samani  6 , Mehdi Banitalebi  2 , Morteza Sedehi  1 , Reza Malekzadeh  3
Affiliations

The protocol of a population-based prospective cohort study in southwest of Iran to analyze common non-communicable diseases: Shahrekord cohort study

Arsalan Khaledifar et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Prospective cohort studies are considered ideal choices to study multiple outcomes and risk factors for Non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Our aim is to set-up the protocol and analyze risk factors, incidence rates, prevalence, trends, and the models of environmental and genetic determinants of NCDs and their outcomes as well as interaction among such determinants.

Methods: Shahrekord cohort study (SCS) that is a population-based prospective, study on a cohort consisting of people aged 35-70 years started in November 2015 in Iran. The sample size of the original cohort is at least 10,000 people. Annual follow-ups (200,000 person-year) of the cohort were designed to be conducted up to 2036. Exposures (a detailed demographic, socioeconomic, general health, quality of life, physical activity, anthropometric indexes, stress, health literacy, social capital, nutrition and eating habits, lifestyle, occupational history, living place, blindness, deafness, electrocardiography, lung capacities, blood pressure, sleep, smoking and alcohol, contact to animals, physical examinations and medical history, dental health, used drugs and supplements, glucose and lipid profiles) were measured by relevant standard methods and questionnaires. Incidence of common NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal, respiratory, renal, hepatic, accidents, injury and neurological diseases), trend of risk factors, hospitalization, disability, and death were considered the outcomes of the cohort. The definition of disease was determined based on the International Classification of Diseases 10th version (ICD-10). Routine hematologic and biochemical tests were conducted and an all-inclusive biobank (blood, hair, nail, and urine specimens) of the cohort was stored for future studies. All steps of data collection and examinations are directly monitored by the quality control team.

Discussion: The SCS is a unique study conducted in southwest of Iran that is a notable work given the climate conditions and ethnicity population (especially in Bakhtiari) of this region. By providing high quality the protocol and introduce it, the SCS can serve as a solid foundation for management and researchers in southwest of Iran. The SCS provides prerequisites for collaboration and regional, national, and international studies on NCDs. Data are available at the modeling in health research center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran, for any collaboration.

Keywords: Adults; Cardiovascular disease; Cohort study; Developing countries; Iran; Non-communicable diseases; Risk factors; Shahrekord.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted with observance of the Declaration of Helsinki and the National Ethical Guidelines in Biomedical Research in Iran. As well, the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the SKUMS (IR.SKUMS.REC 1394.286) at regional and national scales. All participants provided signed and fingerprinted informed written consent according to the Guidelines enforced by the Ethics Committee of the SKUMS. The participants can withdraw from the study whenever they wish. Data are stored in a codified confidential database.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The map of Iran, the location of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and Shahrekord Cohort Study. Legend:(Source: Organization of Management and Planning of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Province, National Mapping Organization)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The cycle of the participants’ referring to the Cohort Center
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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