Roma coronary heart disease patients have more medical risk factors and greater severity of coronary heart disease than non-Roma.
A Sudzinova, I Nagyova, M Studencan, J Rosenberger, Z Skodova, H Vargova, B Middel, S A Reijneveld, J P van Dijk
Author Information
A Sudzinova: East Slovakian Institute for Cardiac and Vascular Diseases, Cardiology Clinic, Ondavska 8, Kosice, 040 01, Slovak Republic. asudzinova@vusch.sk
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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