Hossein Poustchi, Sareh Eghtesad, Farin Kamangar, Arash Etemadi, Abbas-Ali Keshtkar,
Azita Hekmatdoost, Zahra Mohammadi, Zahra Mahmoudi, Amaneh Shayanrad, Farzin Roozafzai,
Mahdi Sheikh, Alireza Jalaeikhoo, Mohammad Hossein Somi, Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei,
Farid Najafi, Ehsan Bahramali, Amirhoushang Mehrparvar, Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam,
Ahmad Ali Enayati, Ali Esmaeili Nadimi, Abbas Rezaianzadeh, Nader Saki, Fatemeh Alipour,
Roya Kelishadi, Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar, Nayyereh Aminisani, Paolo Boffetta,
and Reza Malekzadeh*
* Correspondence to Dr. Reza Malekzadeh, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati
Hospital, North Kargar Street, Tehran 1411713135, Iran (e-mail: malek@tums.ac.ir).
Initially submitted December 5, 2016; accepted for publication August 30, 2017.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for 76% of deaths in Iran, and this number is on the rise, in parallel with
global rates. Many risk factors associated with NCDs are preventable; however, it is first necessary to conduct observational studies to identify relevant risk factors and the most appropriate approach to controlling them. Iran is a multiethnic
country; therefore, in 2014 the Ministry of Health and Medical Education launched a nationwide cohort study—Prospective
Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN)—in order to identify the most prevalent NCDs among Iran’s ethnic
groups and to investigate effective methods of prevention. The PERSIAN study consists of 4 population-based cohorts;
the adult component (the PERSIAN Cohort Study), described in this article, is a prospective cohort study including
۱۸۰,۰۰۰ persons aged 35–۷۰ years from 18 distinct areas of Iran. Upon joining the cohort, participants respond to
interviewer-administered questionnaires. Blood, urine, hair, and nail samples are collected and stored. To ensure
consistency, centrally purchased equipment is sent to all sites, and the same team trains all personnel. Routine visits
and quality assurance/control measures are taken to ensure protocol adherence. Participants are followed for 15
years postenrollment. The PERSIAN study is currently in the enrollment phase; cohort profiles will soon emerge.
cohort studies; Iran; noncommunicable diseases; Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN)