Primordial Prevention of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: An Experience From Low- and Middle-Income Countries Publisher

Summary: Can childhood habits shape heart health? Iran’s CASPIAN surveys documented early cardiometabolic risks, supporting earlier prevention, not guaranteed adult benefits. #ChildHealth #HeartHealth

Abdollahpour I ; Heidari Beni M ; Kelishadi R
Source: Contemporary Cardiology Published:2026

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and obesity, are increasing in developed and developing countries. Evidence has shown the important role of early-life unhealthy lifestyle in subsequent CVD onset. School-based nationwide health surveys help researchers in finding the risk factors of diseases. The primary objective of the Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and PreventIon of Adult Non-communicable disease (CASPIAN) studies, as the first Iranian nationwide surveys, was to investigate the potential role of risk behaviors and risk factors of chronic diseases on a large national sample of Iranian children and adolescents. The findings of different CASPIAN studies provided comprehensive data for future studies and interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Primary information on cardiometabolic risk factors among pediatric age groups can prevent the consequences of chronic diseases in the future. The high prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors in the Iranian population shows the importance of examining these factors in early childhood. Population-level preventive interventions for lifestyle and behavioral modification are recommended. Effective strategies can reduce the burden of diseases in the adult population in the future. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.