title: Anthropometric and cardiopulmonary parameters in Bulgarian and Romany children: cross-sectional study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 15A Vassil Aprilov Blvd., 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. stoilka@mail.orbitel.bg
authors.forename: Stoilka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandadzhieva
authors.forename: Blagoi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marinov
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kostianev
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turnovska
mesh_terms: 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*