Anthropometric and cardiopulmonary parameters in Bulgarian and Romany children: cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine anthropometric parameters and cardiopulmonary function in Bulgarian and Romany children.


METHODS
Two hundred and ten healthy children (153 Bulgarian and 57 Romany) of similar age (10.5-/+0.5 years, mean-/+standard deviation) underwent an anthropometric and pulmonary function assessment and performed an exercise test on a treadmill, using the modified Balke protocol.


RESULTS
Bulgarian children were significantly taller (145-/+7 vs 142-/+7 cm) and heavier (39-/+9 vs 35-/+8 kg) than Romany children. They also had more body fat (20.5-/+8.1% vs 17.8-/+7.6% in Romanies). In a subset of the whole sample, it was established that Bulgarian children had significantly higher birth weight in comparison with Romanies (3,358-/+513 vs 3,095-/+435 g; P=0.006). Mean absolute values of vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and transfer factor (T(L,CO)) were lower for Romany than for Bulgarian children, 7.8%, 7.3%, and 10.2%, respectively. The data from the incremental treadmill test showed that peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak) did not differ significantly between the two ethnic groups (1,341-/+293 vs 1,260-/+280 mL/min). The level of physical exertion was almost the same in the studied groups (respiratory exchange ratio (RER)=1.08-/+0.08 vs 1.08-/+0.06), but the perception of exertion was higher in Bulgarian children (Borg score=4.9-/+1.5 vs 3.2-/+1.5; P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There are significant differences between Bulgarian and Romany children with regard to anthropometric parameters, including stature, lung function indices, and perception of exertion.
Mandadzhieva
Stoilka
S
Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 15A Vassil Aprilov Blvd., 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. stoilka@mail.orbitel.bg
Marinov
Blagoi
B
Kostianev
Stefan
S
Turnovska
Tania
T
D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D000886:Anthropometry; D002031:Bulgaria; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D006178:Romani People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012383:Romania; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014109:Total Lung Capacity / Q000502:physiology*