Bahman Cheraghian
1, Maryam Sharafkhah
2,3 
, Zahra Mohammadi
2, Sanam Hariri
2 , Zahra Rahimi
4, Leila Danehchin
5, Yousef Paridar
6, Farhad Abolnejadian
7,8, Mohammad Noori
9, Seyed Ali Mard
10, Sareh Eghtesad
2, Amaneh Shayanrad
2, Arash Etemadi
11, Reza Ghanbari
2, Farnaz Hashemi
2, Sahar Masoudi
2, Ali Akbar Shayesteh
12, Hossein Poustchi
2* 1 Alimentary Tract Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Bio-statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
5 Faculty of Medicine, Behbahan University of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
6 Faculty of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
7 Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
8 Shoushtar School of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Shoushtar, Iran
9 Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
10 Physiology Research Center, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
11 Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
12 Alimentary Tract Research Center, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
*Corresponding Author: *Corresponding Authors: Hossein Poustchi, MD, PhD; North Kargar St., Shariati Hospital, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran, 1411713135, Iran. Tel: +98-21-82415141; Fax: +98-21-82415400 Email: Ali Akbar Shayesteh, MD; Alimentary Tract Research Center, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Tel: +98-613- 2921839; Fax: +98-613-2921839; Email: shayestehaliakbar5@gmail.com , Email:
h.poustchi@gmail.com
Abstract
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, with a disproportionally rising burden among low- and middle-income populations. While preventable risk factors highly contribute to this burden, population-based studies assessing these factors and the health status of these populations, are scarce.
Methods: The Khuzestan Comprehensive Health Study (KCHS)—a cross sectional study—was conducted between 2016-2019, including 30,506 Iranians aged 20 to 65 years, from 27 counties of Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran. KCHS aimed to provide a comprehensive health overview by investigating the prevalence and risk factors of NCDs and psychological disorders, along with viral hepatitis as a common communicable disease. Upon registration, 15 mL of blood and anthropometric measurements were obtained from participants. Afterwards, several interviewer-administered questionnaires were completed to gather data on demographics, socioeconomic status, sleep quality, physical activity, lifestyle habits, nutrition, and medical history.
Results: The mean ± SD age of participants was 41.7 ± 11.9 years. The majority were female (64.3%), of the Arab ethnicity (49%), married (83%), and urban residents (73.1%). About 70% had an educational level below high school diploma. Overall, 10.8%, 5.2%, and 2.8% of participants had used cigarettes, hookah, and drugs at least once in their lifetime, respectively. While body mass index and serum cholesterol levels were higher in females, blood pressure was higher in males (P<0.001).
Conclusion: KCHS assessed many aspects of health in the Khuzestan province. In addition to develop a biobank along with a comprehensive dataset, KCHS will serve as a valuable infrastructure for future research.