title: Risk factors and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea in central European Roma and non-Roma patients referred for a diagnostic polysomnography [corrected].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity and metabolic syndrome are common among Roma subjects in Slovakia. We hypothesised that Roma subjects are at high risk to suffer from severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  137 non-Roma and 23 Roma subjects referred for a diagnostic polysomnography were consecutively recruited. Overnight polysomnography, anthropometric variables and standard biochemical analyses were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obstructive sleep apnoea was diagnosed in 91% Roma and 65% non-Roma subjects (p < 0.001). Roma subjects had higher apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) (61.2 ± 7.9 vs. 22.8 ± 2.3 events/h, p < 0.001), lower dip oxygen saturation (56.7 ± 4.9 vs. 79.3 ± 1.3%, p < 0.001), and higher waist circumference as compared to non-Roma subjects (121.3 ± 3.1 vs. 105.2 ± 2.4 cm, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, Roma background (p < 0.001) and waist circumference (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of AHI (R (2) = 0.330). Roma background was associated with significantly higher risk of severe OSA (odds ratio 3.73; 95% confidence interval 1.20-11.65, p = 0.023), independently of age, gender and waist circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among subjects referred for polysomnography, Roma background is associated with significantly higher risk of severe OSA. Knowledge of common OSA pattern in Roma patients may help in identifying high risk individuals and guide early therapy of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, P. J. Safarik University, L. Pasteur Teaching Hospital, Rastislavova 43, Kosice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dorkova
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sopkova
authors.forename: Ruzena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tkacova
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017286:Polysomnography; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000208:ethnology