The profile of Rafsanjan Cohort Study (original) (raw)

Abstract

Owning the largest human-made jungle of pistachio, the second largest copper mine, and being located on the trade route of opium transit, distinguish Rafsanjan from many other cities in Iran. The environmental exposures and lifestyle factors associated with these characteristics of Rafsanjan, have raised concern about possible health outcomes for individuals living in and around this city. Thus, local health authorities initiated the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). RCS is a population-based prospective cohort of men and women aged 35–70 years, launched in August 2015. Individuals from diverse socioeconomic levels and lifestyles were recruited from four urban and suburban areas of Rafsanjan (participation rate 67.42%). Questionnaire-based interviews regarding demographics, dietary and environmental exposures, medical and occupational history, as well as anthropometric measurements were completed for all participants. Additionally, bio-specimens (blood, urine, hair, and nail) were collected, and dental and eye examinations were performed. The enrollment phase ended in December 2017, and a 15-year follow-up is planned. A total of 9990 individuals were enrolled in RCS (53.41% females). About 26% of men are pistachio farmers. The baseline prevalence of major non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and opium use were 25.45%, 10.02%, and 23.81%, respectively. The mean ± SD of other common risk factors are as follows: body mass index (27.83 ± 4.89 mm Hg), systolic blood pressure (107.18 ± 17.56 mm Hg) diastolic blood pressure (71.13 ± 10.83), fasting blood sugar (113.27 ± 39.11 mg/dL) and plasma cholesterol (198.78 ± 41.89 mg/dL). These results indicate a concerning prevalence of NCD risk factors in Rafsanjan city, warranting further detailed investigations, particularly regarding the association of NDC with agricultural/industrial pollutants and drug abuse.

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Acknowledgements

Many individuals have contributed to this study. We wish to thank the study participants for their cooperation. We also would like to express our special thanks to general physicians, nurses and nutritionists in the enrollment teams for their collaboration and assistance. This study was conducted as a collaboration between PERSIAN Cohort Central Team and the RUMS team. The Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education has contributed to the funding used in the PERSIAN Cohort through Grant No. 700/534. This study has also been supported by the Vice Chancellery for Research & Technology of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
    Hamid Hakimi, Jafar Ahmadi, Alireza Vakilian, Ahmad Jamalizadeh, Zahra Kamyab, Mahya Mehran, Mohammadreza Soleimani, Morteza Khademalhosseini, Mohammadreza Abolghasemi, Movahedeh Mohammadi, Tabandeh Sadeghi, Fatemeh Ayoobi, Mitra Abbasi, Maryam Mohamadi, Zahra Jalali & Ali Esmaeili-Nadimi
  2. Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    Reza Malekzadeh, Hossein Poustchi & Sareh Eghtesad
  3. Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
    Farimah Sardari
  4. Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
    Ali Shamsizadeh

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  1. Hamid Hakimi
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  2. Jafar Ahmadi
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  3. Alireza Vakilian
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  6. Mahya Mehran
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  7. Reza Malekzadeh
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  8. Hossein Poustchi
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  9. Sareh Eghtesad
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  10. Farimah Sardari
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  11. Mohammadreza Soleimani
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Correspondence toAli Esmaeili-Nadimi.

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Hakimi, H., Ahmadi, J., Vakilian, A. et al. The profile of Rafsanjan Cohort Study.Eur J Epidemiol 36, 243–252 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-020-00668-7

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