five-year evaluation of chronic diseases in hamadan, iran: 2005-2009

background: now the increasing growth of chronic diseases is the major health challenge worldwide. this survey was conducted to assess noncommunicable diseases related risk factors. methods: a population-based cross sectional study was conducted in 2005 and repeated annually by 2009 in hamadan province, the west of iran using two-stage cluster sampling method. a total sample of 6500 subjects 15 to 64 years old were enrolled. results: the total prevalence of cigarette smoking was 18% [95% ci 17% to 19%], 35.1% in men versus 1.1% in women. the smokers consumed on average 15 cigarettes per day. almost 26.3% [95% ci 24.8% to 27.7%] of the target population eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day; 52.8% [95% ci 51.2% to 54.3%] had work related physical activity; 28.1% [95% ci 26.7% to 29.4%] had physical activity during leisure time; 80.3% [95% ci 79.0% to 81.5%] had transportation related physical activity; 47.2% [95% ci 46.0% to 48.4%] were either overweight or obese; 8.1% [95% ci 7.1% to 9.2%] had impaired fasting blood sugar or were confirmed diabetes; 33.7% [95% ci 31.9% to 35.5%] had hypercholesterolemia; and 15.6% [95% ci 13.0% to 18.3%] had hypertriglyceridemia. there was a statistically significant association of age and gender with body mass index, systolic and diastolic hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. conclusions: the evidences of the present survey promise a silent progressive epidemic of chronic diseases among iranian citizens that may lead to an increasing growth of noncommunicable diseases in the next decade.