Adherence to Iran’s Package of Essential Noncommunicable Diseases (IraPEN) Program for Regular Follow-up to Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Healthcare Centers

In Iran, as in most West Asian countries, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and accounts for 46% of deaths. This study examines the clientchr(chr(chr(chr('39')39chr('39'))39chr(chr('39')39chr('39')))39chr(chr(chr('39')39chr('39'))39chr(chr('39')39chr('39'))))s adherence to the schedule of visits recommended by health centers in IraPEN program (Iran- Package of Essential Non communicable Disease) based on their cardiovascular risk.

IraPEN program that is a modification of the WHO PEN (World Health Organization - Package of Essential Non communicable Disease) has been piloted in 4 cities of Naqadeh, Maragheh, Shahreza and Baft from 1394 to 1396 to control the main risk factors of non-communicable diseases in Iran and this program is still ongoing.  In the present study, 160,833 people were followed up over a year to measure the number of timely visits to receive primary health care and to investigate the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

In all four cities, adherence was low. The overall compliance rate in the study was 19.73%. Non-referral was higher in men than in women (75.75% versus 68.94%). Also, the rate of adherence in risk 1 was higher in the first visit and decreased in visit 2. At risk 3 and 4 there was little adherence on the first visit but increased on visits 2 and 3.

Among the participants in the study, the overall rate of compliance to the recommended referral times was low and was lower in men compared to women that shows men pay less attention to their health status. There is a need for further training to clarify the importance of health care and adherence improvement to the proposed schedules.