The Roma Population Living in Segregated Settlements in Eastern Slovakia Has a Higher Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome, Kidney Disease, Viral Hepatitis B and E, and Some Parasitic Diseases Compared to the Majority Population
Open Access
- 29 April 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Vol. 17 (9), 3112
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093112
Abstract
Background: The Roma population is one of the largest marginalized population groups in Europe. The aim of our work was to summarize the morbidity of lifestyle-related diseases and infectious diseases in the Roma population living in segregated settlements. Methods: We used data from the cross-sectional study HepaMeta, in which we examined 452 Roma subjects with an average age of 34.7 ± 9.1 years, 35.2% of which were men, and 403 non-Roma subjects with an average age of 33.5 ± 7.4 years, 45.9% of which were men. We collected data by means of a questionnaire, anthropometric measures, and we analyzed blood and urine samples. Results: Roma subjects had a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome (RR: 1.478 (1.159–1.885), p < 0.0001), obesity or waist circumference >94 cm in men/80 cm in women (RR: 1.287 (1.127–1.470), p < 0.0001), and HDL-C < 1.03 mmol/L in men or p < 0.0001) than their non-Roma counterparts. Subjects of the Roma population were more frequently diagnosed with kidney disease (RR: 1.216 (1.096–1.349), p < 0.0001), HBsAg positivity (RR: 4.468 (2.373–8.415), p < 0.0001), anti HBc IgG positivity (RR: 3.13 (2.598–4.224), p < 0.0001), and anti HEV positivity (RR: 2.972 (1.226–7.287), p < 0.0001). Serological markers of Toxoplasma gondii infection and Toxocara spp. were observed much more frequently among Roma than non-Roma subjects (RR: 1.868 (1.520–2.296), p < 0.0001, for Toxoplasma gondii; and RR: 21.812 (8.097–58.761), p < 0.0001, for Toxocara spp.). Conclusions: Poor socio-economic conditions, an unhealthy lifestyle, and barriers precluding access to healthcare are factors that affect the Roma population in settlements and lead to an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components, kidney disease, viral hepatitis B and E, and some parasitic diseases.Keywords
Funding Information
- European Regional Development Fund (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0123)
This publication has 57 references indexed in Scilit:
- Body mass index and measures of body fat for defining obesity and underweight: a cross-sectional, population-based studyBMC Obesity, 2014
- Renal Transplantation in the Roma Ethnicity—Do All Patients Have Equal Chance for Transplantation?Transplantation Proceedings, 2013
- Is the cardiovascular risk profile of people living in Roma settlements worse in comparison with the majority population in Slovakia?International Journal of Public Health, 2013
- Are barriers in accessing health services in the Roma population associated with worse health status among Roma?International Journal of Public Health, 2013
- End-stage renal disease among Roma and non-Roma: Roma are at riskInternational Journal of Public Health, 2012
- Roma ethnicity and clinical outcomes in kidney transplant recipientsInternational Urology and Nephrology, 2011
- Seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis A, B, and C among roma and non‐roma children in a deprived area of Athens, GreeceJournal of Medical Virology, 2008
- The metabolic syndrome—a new worldwide definitionThe Lancet, 2005
- The health of the Roma people: a review of the published literatureJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2000
- Congenital Glaucoma in Gypsies from SlovakiaHuman Heredity, 1982