Payesh (Health Monitor) Journal · Aug 16, 2026
Iranian health profile: A secondary study based on the social health tree conceptual model
By Mohammadi NK, Aeenparast A, Alipour A et al.
Objective(s): Measuring and monitoring population health is a critical step in improving health and requires a multidimensional assessment of it.This study aimed to examine the health profile of Iranians using a native conceptual framework.Methods: This study was a review of national and international published documents and datasets on health and health determinants in 2024.The Social Tree of Health conceptual framework was applied to collect, organize, and report data.Findings were supplemented and validated through expert consultation.Results: This article examined the indicators corresponding to the fruit and branch levels of the Social Health Tree conceptual model.At the fruit level of the Social Tree, outcome indicators such as life expectancy, mortality indices, disease incidence, disease prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were examined.Findings revealed a 10% increase in life expectancy.Although maternal and child mortality declined, the overall mortality rate rose from 4.3 per thousand in 2017 to 5.5 per thousand in 2024.In contrast, perinatal mortality, neonatal mortality, infant mortality, and under-five mortality all demonstrated substantial downward trends.The incidence of myocardial infarction increased by approximately 3% between 2016 and 2021.At the branch level, which reflects individual biological non-genetic factors, indicators of metabolic balance and anatomical fitness were assessed.The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia increased by 5.6%, 3.4%, and 34%, respectively.Obesity and overweight also showed a marked rise across all measures.Conclusion: The findings indicated that at the outcome (fruit) level, improvements were observed in life expectancy and reductions in mortality among specific population groups and from premature death.Furthermore, the case-fatality rates of most diseases-including nearly all communicable diseases except for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, as well as most chronic diseases except diabetes and kidney disease-have declined substantially.Despite gains in longevity, DALYs and indicators of violent behavior had not improved.The study also underscores the urgent need to address overweight and metabolic disorders, which assume major risk factors for chronic diseases.