Rationale, design, and preliminary results of the Iran-premature coronary artery disease study (I-PAD): A multi-center case-control study of different Iranian ethnicities

BACKGROUND: Premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is still prevalent worldwide and may differ in various ethnicities. Due to the presence of different ethnicities in Iran, the Iran-premature coronary artery disease (I-PAD) study aimed to determine the frequency of premature CAD and related risk factors based on each ethnicity.METHODS: In this multi-center case-control study, ۴۰۰۰ patients with premature CAD from ten different ethnicities who lived in different cities of Iran and underwent coronary angiography were enrolled (women aged ≤ ۷۰ and men ≤ ۶۰ years). Patients with CAD defined as obstruction equal or above ۷۵% in at least a single coronary artery or left main ≥ ۵۰% were included in the case group, while patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the control group. Lifestyle behaviors, cardiometabolic risk factors, anthropometric measurements, and other variables were collected. Serum, whole blood, buffy coat, plasma, urine, stool, and saliva samples were stored.RESULTS: The number of patients enrolled until April ۲۰۲۰ was ۲۰۷۱. The mean age of patients was ۵۳.۵۱ ± ۷.۵۲ and ۹۳۴ (۴۵.۰۹%) of patients were women. To date, about ۳۹.۶% of the patients were normal. Also, about ۲۶.۰% were with one-vessel disease (۱VD), ۱۵.۰% with two-vessel disease (۲VD), and ۱۵.۲% with three-vessel disease (۳VD). More than ۳۰۰۰۰ patients' biosamples from across the country have been stored.CONCLUSION: Knowing the frequency of premature CAD according to different ethnicities with major differences in their lifestyle behaviors and risk factors can assist health decision-makers. In addition, I-PAD biosamples will be an invaluable source. 

Keywords:

Coronary Artery Disease , Ethnic Groups , Risk Factors , Biological Specimen Banks , Iran