A Decade of Epidemiological Transition of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in South of Iran (Two Population-Based Cross-Sectional Studies)

Background: The potential modifiable risk factors for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) include lifestyle, overweight or obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a decade of transition (2008 and 2018) of cardiovascular risk factors in Fars province, south of Iran. Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study was carried out in Fars province, Iran. The sample included 1000 and 1770 participants selected by cluster sampling in 2008 and 2018, respectively. The data about cardiovascular risk factors were collected using a pretest. The participants' height, weight, lipid profile, and blood pressure were measured by standardized instruments. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS 16 software, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results indicated that smoking was more prevalent in males than in females, ranging from 2.2% (n- 3) in the 15-24 age group to 39% (n - 38) in the 55-64 age group in 2008. In 2018, it increased from 5.72% (n = 7) in the 15-24 age group to 46.04% (n = 65) in the 55-64 age group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). During this period, the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) did not show any decrease among most of the age and gender groups, and increased significantly in some age and gender groups. For example, BMI increased from 23.5 to 25.4 kg/m(2) among males in the 25-35 age group (P= 0.008) and from 27.6 to 29.37 kg/m(2) among females in the 45 - 54 age group (P = 0.009). Considering blood pressure (systolic blood pressure >= 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mmHg), hypertension became more prevalent during this period, but the difference was significant only for 15-24-year-old females (P = 0.048). Conclusion: The present study findings revealed the high prevalence of CVD risk factors in Fars province in 2008 and 2018. In contrast to expectations, there was no significant reduction in the risk factors after a decade and, in many cases, an increase was detected in the prevalence of these risk factors.