Activity status and cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study based on the results of Rafsanjan Cohort Study (2020)

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. Activity status is used as a social class marker of CVDs. Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the associations between occupational status and CVDs in Iranian population. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 9,990 subjects aged 35-70 years enrolled in the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as one of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN). Occupational status, socio-demographic characteristics, physical activity, cigarette and hookah smoking, opium use, and alcohol consumption were assessed through six pre-designed questionnaires. Anthropometric, body mass index (BMI), medical history, and laboratory tests were also performed. CVDs were defined as the presence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) or myocardial infarction (MI). Prevalence ratios were calculated for each activity status and CVD using Poisson regression models. Results: The occupational activities were assigned to two classes: homemaker (40.17%) was the largest group of class I, followed by self-employed (34.44%), employed (13.03%), retired (10.38%), and unemployed (1.62%). In class II, the largest group included pistachio farmers (12.61%), copper miners (3.62%), and others (83.76%). A percentage of people were illiterate (9.50%), especially in the homemaker group (61.39%). In general, 8.71% and 2.98% of participants suffered from IHD and MI, respectively. After adjusting the socio-demographic and other characteristics, there was no significant association between occupational status and CVDs. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, activity status was not associated with the risk of IHD and MI.