Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS)

   Prof. Nizal Sarraf Zadegan

A 10-year longitudinal population-based study entitled Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS) was conducted in 2001-2011. Primary and secondary outcomes of ICS were cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) incidence and mortality. This study was carried out on 6504 participants aged 35 years and over from urban and rural areas of Isfahan, Najafabas and Arak. For all participants, knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire about CVDs and their risk factors, stress, physical activity and nutrition as well as demographic factors, quality of life questionnaire were completed, and ECG and medical examination are carried out at the beginning and every 5 years of the study. During the study, every 2 years, the participants were followed up by telephone call and a questionnaire was completed for them.

After that we designed a multi-level non-communicable diseases (NCDs) study named Isfahan cohort Study2 (ICS2). ICS was considered as a master plan for ICS2. This study is a multi-generation 10-year cohort study with new goals and outcomes that have been started in 2013, recruiting a sub-sample of ICS (n=1487) and a new recruited sample (n=1355) aged 35 years and over as first generation participants, all living in urban and rural areas of Isfahan and Najafabad. In addition, 2500 of participant’s adult children (second generation) were selected randomly, as well as 1000 of their >= 6 year grandchildren (third generation). The primary outcomes of ICS2 are to detect the incidence of some NCDs including CVDs, cancers, and diabetes mellitus and the secondary ones are mortality from the diseases. In addition, studying lifestyle behaviors in three generations in a hierarchical manner of parents, their children and grandchildren in ICS2 will improve our knowledge on other determinants such as epigenetics of NCDs. For all participants, NCDs risk factors including smoking, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in addition demographic factors, stress, quality of life and dietary habits are assessed using a questionnaire. For >= 18 year-participants, ECG and medical examination are carried out at the beginning and every 5 years of the study. During the study, every 2 years, the participants are followed up by telephone call and a questionnaire is completed for them.