Clinical and biochemical determinants of metabolic syndrome among Roma and non-Roma subjects in the eastern part of Slovakia.
BACKGROUND
The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk. The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among populations of lower socioeconomic status is a cause of concern and calls for an effective public health response.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Roma population compared with the non-Roma population in the eastern part of Slovakia and to determine the parameter which has the strongest association with metabolic syndrome.


RESULTS
123 Roma and 79 non-Roma patients with metabolic syndrome were evaluated. In the subgroup of Roma men, we found that waist circumference conferred the highest chance of MS (more than 12-times), followed by triglycerides (TG) (3.670-times). In the subgroup of non-Roma men, we found that waist circumference conferred the highest chance of MS (more than 16-times), followed by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (4.348-times increased risk per one unit decrease in HDL). In the subgroup of Roma women as well as non-Roma women, we found that serum TG conferred the highest chance of MS, followed by waist circumference for Roma women. Comparing non-classical risk factors for MS we found that only age (with OR 1.977) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (OR 1.887) were significant and independent predictors of MS in Roma men. Among Roma women apolipoprotein B100 was also found to be an independent predictor of MS, besides age and hsCRP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirmed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is strongly associated with hypertriglyceridemic waist, besides other risk factors, a marker of the atherogenic metabolic triad among younger Roma population, which may be the reason for the increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in elderly Roma compared with non-Roma. In light of these results, better prevention of CV events for Roma minority settlements in Slovakia should be provided.
Ján
J
Fedacko
Daniel
D
Pella
Peter
P
Jarcuska
Leonard
L
Siegfried
Martin
M
Janicko
Eduard
E
Veselíny
Frantisek
F
Sabol
Pavol
P
Jarcuska
Mária
M
Mareková
Andrea Madarasová
AM
Gecková
Peter
P
Pazinka
Monika
M
Jankajová
Ján
J
Kmec
Marián
M
Babcák
Peter
P
Kalanin
Sylvia
S
Drazilová
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein