Roma coronary heart disease patients have more medical risk factors and greater severity of coronary heart disease than non-Roma.
Int J Public Health 2013;
58:409-15. [PMID:
23543308 DOI:
10.1007/s00038-013-0462-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2012] [Revised: 03/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity world-wide. Evidence on ethnic differences between the Roma and non-Roma regarding medical risk factors is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess differences in medical risk factors and the severity of CHD in Roma compared with non-Roma CHD patients, adjusted for gender, age and education.
METHODS
Six hundred seventy four patients were included in this cross-sectional study (132 Roma, 542 non-Roma). Data on medical risk factors, symptoms, medication and severity of CHD were obtained from medical records. After matching Roma and non-Roma according to education, linear and logistic regression analyses with adjustments for gender and age were used.
RESULTS
Compared with non-Roma, Roma patients had significantly more risk factors and more severe types of CHD. They were treated less frequently with statins and beta-blockers, were more frequently left on pharmacotherapy and surgically revascularised. These differences remained after controlling for education, gender and age.
CONCLUSIONS
Roma CHD patients have a worse risk profile at entry of care and seem to be undertreated compared with non-Roma CHD patients.
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