Heart Assessment and Monitoring in Rajaie Hospital (HAMRAH): A population-based cohort study

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) impose great burden on the health systems worldwide. The prevention of CVDs depends on the correct information about the perveance/incidence of them and their determinants in the community and population-based studies are the most accurate ways for obtaining these data. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of the classic risk factors of CVDs among healthy adult residents of Tehran and their changes through a 10-year follow-up in Tehran, the capital of Iran. This article presents the study protocol. Methods: Heart Assessment and Monitoring in RAjaie Hospital, is a population-based study conducted in Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, the largest tertiary care hospital for CVDs in Tehran. It consists two phases: A survey and a prospective cohort. People between 30 and 75 years of age, without known CVDs, invite through a multistage random sampling process. They will assess for the CVD risk factors, laboratory indices, electrocardiography and echocardiography features, diet, physical activity levels, psychological aspects, and peripheral vascular diseases. All the participants will be followed for 10 years and the changes in the above-mentioned factors and incidence of CVDs assessed. Discussion: It is expected that through obtaining valid, population-specific data, the information for policy making and efficient management of CVDs in Iranian people be provided.