High Prevalence of Smoking in the Roma Population Seems to Have No Genetic Background.
The prevalence of smoking in Romani of both genders is significantly higher than in the general population. Our aim was to determine whether a genetic susceptibility contributes to the high prevalence of smoking among Roma in a study based on data collected from cross-sectional surveys.



Twenty single nucleotide polymorphisms known to be closely related to smoking behavior were investigated in DNA samples of Hungarian Roma (N = 1273) and general (N = 2388) populations. Differences in genotype and allele distribution were investigated. Genetic risk scores (GRSs) were generated to estimate the joint effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes COMT, CHRNA3/4/5, CYP2A6, CTNNA3, DRD2, MAOA, KCNJ6, AGPHD1, ANKK1, TRPC7, GABRA4, and NRXN1. The distribution of scores in study populations was compared. Age, gender, and body mass index were considered as confounding factors.



Difference in allele frequencies between the study populations remained significant for 16 polymorphisms after multiple test correction (p < .003). Unexpectedly, the susceptible alleles were more common in the general population, although the protective alleles were more prevalent among Roma. The distribution of unweighted GRS in Roma population was left shifted compared to general population (p < .001). Furthermore, the median weighted GRS was lower among the subjects of Roma population compared to the subjects of general population (p < .001) even after adjustment for confounding factors.



The harmful smoking behavior of the Roma population could not be accounted for by genetic susceptibility; therefore, interventions aimed at smoking prevention and cessation should focus on cultural and environmental factors.



This is the first study designed to determine whether genetic background exists behind the harmful behavior of the smoking of the Roma population. Although the frequencies of susceptible and protective alleles strongly differ between the Hungarian Roma and general populations, it is shown that calculated GRSs being significantly higher in the general population, which do not support the hypothesis on the genetic susceptibility of the Roma population. Interventions aimed at smoking cessation in the Roma population should preferentially target cultural and environmental factors.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Szilvia
S
Fiatal
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Réka
R
Tóth
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.|MTA-DE Public Health Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Ágota
Á
Moravcsik-Kornyicki
Department of Health Visitor Methodology and Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Hungary.
Zsigmond
Z
Kósa
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
János
J
Sándor
Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Martin
M
McKee
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.|WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.|MTA-DE Public Health Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Róza
R
Ádány
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D055815:Young Adult