Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Programme, phase I (cardiovascular system).

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality globally, particularly in aging populations.
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of CVD risk factors in specific demographics is crucial for targeted interventions.
• The Bushehr Elderly Health Programme (BEHP) was initiated to address the health needs of the elderly in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in individuals aged 60 and above in Bushehr, Iran.
• To examine the association between these risk factors and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
• To establish a baseline for longitudinal monitoring of cardiovascular health in the elderly Iranian population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 3000 participants (men and women ≥ 60 years) in Bushehr, Iran.
• Data collection included modified WHO MONICA questionnaire for risk factors, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, electrocardiography, and echocardiography.
• Blood samples were collected and stored for future analyses.

Main Results:

• Preliminary analysis indicates a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among older women compared to older men.
• Baseline data on demographic, socioeconomic, smoking, and medical history were collected.
• Vital signs, anthropometric measures, ECG, and echocardiography were performed on all participants.

Conclusions:

• The initial findings highlight potential sex-based differences in cardiovascular risk factor prevalence among the elderly in Bushehr.
• The BEHP provides a valuable dataset for understanding and mitigating cardiovascular disease in this population.
• Further follow-up is planned to assess the incidence of MACE and investigate other health aspects like bone health and cognition.