title: Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors in a Roma community from Southwestern France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Roma from Central-Eastern Europe experience a reduced life expectancy in comparison with the general population. Predisposing cardiovascular risk factors could be the underlying reason for this. Here for the first time epidemiologic data on the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in a subgroup of French Roma has been presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive epidemiological field survey was conducted in the Manouche community of Pau, Southwestern France. Fifty participants were included (17 men and 33 women) all living in caravans. A questionnaire to ask for demographic and health information was used, and biometric measurements were took in order to assess cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our sample included 18% diabetics, 32% people suffering from hypertension, 28% subjects with hypercholesterolemia, and 34% smokers. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was, respectively, 40% and 38% and that of abdominal obesity 64%. These frequencies were about twice those found in the general French population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our sample was of limited size, our data suggest that French Manouches express a high-risk profile regarding cardiovascular disease, as has been reported for Roma from various countries. Both intrinsic and environmental factors may explain this.
authors.affiliation: Collège des sciences de la vie et de la santé, Université de Bordeaux, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papon
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier de Pau, Service de cardiologie, 4 Boulevard Hauterive, 64000, Pau, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delarche
authors.affiliation: Cabinet de Médecine générale, 78 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 64000, Pau, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Borgne
authors.affiliation: UMR 5199 PACEA, Université de Bordeaux, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, 33615, Pessac Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bauduer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People; D000074285:Smokers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Manouches; Roma; cardiovascular risk factors; epidemiology; public health