Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factors Surveillance in Iran

Background: Non-communicable diseases cause more than 60% of disease burden and 70% death by 2020. NCD risk factors surveillance system is a global strategy to combat with this problem in the world. It has been established since 2004 in Iran. Methods: The first national surveillance risk factors of Non-communicable disease (SURFNCD) run as a cross sectional study on 89000 populations by applying who stepwise approach in January and February 2005. Result: The prevalence of common risk factors were 14.2 current smokers, 32.5% did exercise at least 10 minutes in their free time in ages 15-64 yr, 7.7 diabetics and 25.2 hypertensive in ages 25-64 yr. Obesity, overweight and hypercholesterolemia were 14.8, 28.6 and 15.1, respectively in ages 15-64 yr. Conclusion: Implementation of this system is one of the main concerns of Iranian prototype surveillance system and international concerned bodies such as World Health Organization. Multi-pronged policy and programmatic interventions promoting for maximum effectiveness are needed to conduct.