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AbstractBackground and aim:The Roma population is one of the ethnic minorities with a long history of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of underweight in Roma population living in rural settlements from Călăraşi County in the south part of Romania.Methods:This cross-sectional, epidemiological, non-interventional study was conducted from March 2014 to May 2017 in several villages from Calarasi County. We analized the data from 978 people: 660 Roma (457 females/203 males), and 318 Romanian Caucasians (213 females/105 males) aged between 18 and 88 yr. Body mass index (BMI) was classified using the definitions of World Health Organization and a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 was defined as underweight.Results:In Roma population group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 4.5% (n = 30), 26.5% (n = 175), 25% (n = 165) and 43.9% (n = 290) respectively. The prevalence of underweight was higher in Roma population compared to Romanian Caucasian, with a significantly higher prevalence in young age groups, 6.9% in 18–29-year age group and 8.2% in 30–39-year age group as well as in the age group of over 70 years (7.5%).Among the Roma population, in multivariate adjustment for all covariates in a backward stepwise elimination procedure, significant predictors of underweight were a current smoking and lower socio-educational level (under eight classes).Conclusions:Our results confirm and reinforce the need to implement prevention programs in high-risk populations such as the Roma population, due to the double burden of malnutrition, low access to the health system, low socio-economic level, limited access to education lack of medical education and preventive healthcare.

Introduction. Over the last few years, lower limb amputations have represented a prevalent worldwide burden in the evolution of diabetic patients, but at what extent this burden affects the Roma population compared to Caucasians in Romania still needs further comprehension.Aim. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of lower extremities amputations in a Roma population, compared to a Caucasian population, in the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), as well as to identify the risk factors associated.Materials and methods. We included 536 patients, of whom 257 Roma subjects and 279 Romanian Caucasians, with the following socio-demographic status: the Roma group included 123 women (48.1%) and 134 men (51.9%), aged between 18 and 86 years, while the Caucasian group registered 107 women (47.9%) and 172 men (61.6%), aged between 18 and 89 years.Results. Analyzing the whole group, the prevalence of amputations was 5% (n=27). A greater proportion of amputations was found in Romanian Caucasians (n=21, 7.5%), where there were 17 men (9.9%) and 4 women (3.7%) affected, compared to the Roma population (n=6, 2.3%), where all amputations occurred in men. Noticeably, this complication is more predominantly afflicting men.Conclusions. Non-traumatic lower extremity amputation remains a challenge today in the care of diabetic patients. In our study, higher rates of amputations were observed in Romanian Caucasians, in comparison with the Roma population. Apart from this, this condition was accompanied by many cardiovascular risk factors.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of glucose intolerance (diabetes, prediabetes) in Roma population living in rural settlements from Călărași County in the south part of Romania. Methods: This cross-sectional, epidemiological, non-interventional study was conducted from March 2014 to May 2017 in several settlements from Călărași County, in Romania. We included 603 patients, 448 Roma (320 females/128 males) and 155 Romanian Caucasians (104 females/51 males), aged between 18 and 88 yr. Glucose intolerance was defined using American Diabetes Association criteria. Body mass index was classified using the definition of World Health Organization. Metabolic waist was defined as waist circumference over 80 cm in women and 94 cm in men. Results: Prevalence of diabetes (newly diagnosed diabetes and known diabetes) was greater in Romanian Caucasians group, but in both groups larger than the published national data (34.8% vs. 23.6%, p=0.008). Obesity was present in 43.2% (n=67) of the Romanian Caucasians and 43.3% (n=194) of the Roma population (p=0.97). The average age was lower in Roma population (49.91±16.97 vs. 56.43±13.36 years, p&lt;0.001). In Roma population group, the prevalence of prediabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes and known diabetes was 12.5% (n=56), 13.6% (n=61) and 10% (n=45) respectively. In Romanian Caucasians group, the prevalence of prediabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes and known diabetes was 12.9% (n=20), 14.8% (n=23), and 20% (n=31) respectively. Conclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of diabetes and obesity among the Romanian Caucasians and Roma population in the south part of Romania, Călărași County. Independent risk factors for diabetes in the Roma population were the metabolic waist (OR=2.539; 95% CI 1.309-4.925) and physical activity less than 30 minutes/day (OR=2.099; 95% CI 1.279-3.444). Disclosure E. Rusu: None. G.M. Enache: None. F. Rusu: None. M.C. Baleanu: None. G. Radulian: None.

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