چکیده :
The Roma (Gypsy) are the largest European minority population characterized by poverty,
social exclusion as well as by numerous life-style and cultural specificities, which all could
have an adverse impact on their cardiovascular health. This study assesses the prevalence
of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors in community-based sample of 430 adult
Roma, living in rural area of Croatia, by providing the actual and age-adjusted estimates
using the European standard population. The most prominent classical CVD risk
phenotypes (blood pressure, obesity, smoking, glucose and lipid profile) were selected,
and the standard risk cut-offs were applied. The study has shown that compared to general
population of Croatia, the Roma population bears a high CVD risk factors load related to
smoking and high glucose level. The CVD risk factors prevalence in Roma also showed
important sex and age patterns, the most imposing of which are the findings of higher
prevalence of CVD risks in women (especially obesity and triglyceride levels) and the trend
of higher body mass index (BMI) level in younger age group (18–34 years) which both
stand in contrast to the trends characterizing the general population of Croatia. These
findings are complemented by the trend of decreased risk in the oldest age group (65+
years) for all investigated CVD risk factors (with exception of triglycerides level) compared
to the 50–64 age group. We conclude that the age and sex CVD risks pattern point to the
health transition of this rural Roma population. As we expect the proportion of CVD in the
Roma minority of Croatia to increase in the future along with further modernization of
their lifestyle, the CVD prevention measures in this population are urgent and should be
primarily targeted at women and at the younger segment of this population