Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

• Roya Kelishadi ¹
• Noushin Mohammadifard ²
• Nizal Sarrafzadegan ¹
• Fatemeh Nouri ³
• Rezvan Pashmi ⁴
• Ahmad Bahonar ⁵
• Hossein Heidari ⁶
• Sedigheh Asgary ⁷
• Maryam Boshtam ²
• Alireza Mardani ⁸

¹ Professor, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

² PhD Candidate, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

³ MSc Student, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁴ BSc, Isfahan Provincial Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁵ General Practitioner, MPH, Hypertension Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁶ General Practitioner, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁷ Professor, Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁸ BSc, Isfahan Provincial Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, And BSc, Najaf Abad Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effects of a 6-year-long communityparticipatoryprogram including school-based interventions on mean values and prevalence ofcardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents.METHODS: The interventions of this community trial, conducted from 2000 to 2007 in Iran,targeted the whole population (of nearly two millions) living in two cities considered as theintervention area (IA) in comparison with a reference area (RA). Data from surveys conductedbefore and after interventions was used to compare the differences between the secondaryschool students of the IA and RA.RESULTS: The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia declinedsignificantly in girls and boys in the IA (P < 0.01). The prevalence of high LDL-C decreasedsignificantly in the girls in the RA (P = 0.002). Among both sexes in the IA, the prevalence oflow HDL-C increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas it decreased in the girls and boys in theRA (P = 0.04). Although in the IA, the prevalence of overweight and obesity decreasedsignificantly in girls (P = 0.001), it increased in boys (P = 0.001) as well as in the girls of the RA(P = 0.01).CONCLUSION: By performing school-based interventions, our study was successful, at least inpart, in controlling some cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Such modifications mayhave long-term impacts on non-communicable diseases prevention in adulthood.Keywords: Prevention, Adolescents, Lifestyle, Community Trial, Iran.