The objective of the study was to determine some Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors in 174 Roma children and adolescents (88 males and 86 females) aged 7-18 in 3 Central Slovakian cities (44 from Žilina, 39 from Banská Bystrica and 91 from Rimavská Sobota). Venous blood samples were drawn in the morning, after a 12 hour overnight fast for biochemical analysis. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were determined enzymatically. HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) after selective precipitation lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated by the Friedewald Formula. Serum levels of apolipoproteins (apo A, apo B) were analyzed immunochemically. Concentration of lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] was analyzed by immunonephelometric method (Beckman-Coulter System). Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, waist and hip circumference were used to calculate the sum of the body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). Measured blood pressure (BP) was used to classify for hypertension. Significant differences were determined in serum levels of LDL-C (p<0.05; by Tukey HSD test multiple comparison more significant difference was determined between Žilina and Rimavská Sobota p<0.046), TG (p=0.008), apo A (p<0.001), Lp(a) (p=0.042), WHR (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), sBP (p<0.001) and dBP (p=0.012) in Roma individuals of all locality groups. The Roma population from Rimavská Sobota had (in comparison to the examined populations) statistically higher values of TC, TG, LDL-C, lower HDL-C. The population showed significant relation of TG and stress at home (p=0.03) and at school (p=0.01), HDL-C and cigarette smoking (p=0.004), apo A and cigarette smoking (p=0.02) and socioeconomic status (p=0.006), WHR and cigarette smoking (p=0.02). Risk values of WHR, apo B and Lp(a) were mostly determined in Žilina's population (WHR significantly connected with family history CVD p=0.03, cigarette smoking p=0.02 and leisure time physical activity p<0.001) and BMI, apo A and BP in Banská Bystrica. WHR was positively correlated to BP and negatively to HDL-C and TG only in Roma participants from Rimavská Sobota. BMI was positively correlated to systolic BP in populations from Banská Bystrica and Rimavská Sobota. The results of the study should improve the paediatric health treatment and prevention of CVD risk predictors for Roma from different cities.

SUMMARYThe objective of the study was to determine some Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors in relation to cigarette smoking in 174 Roma children and adolescents (88 males and 86 females) and 131 non-Roma probands (males and females) aged 7-18 in central Slovakia.In this biethnic study, 26.4% of the Roma children and adolescents (more than twice contrary to the control group) were smokers. Among the studied ethnicities, the majority of smokers was Roma (79.3%, 46 subjects). Smoking Roma have higher means of TG, Lp(a) and WHR compared with non-smoking non-Roma. The most frequent CVD risk predictors of smoking Roma probands was low serum levels HDL-C, apo A (the Fisher test confirmed a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and HDL-C, apo A; p<0.01).The results of the research should help to develop an effective preventative health education programs focused on Roma education (who live in a higher-risk environment compared to the majority population) in order to stem the spread of CVD as well as morbidity and mortality in this ethnic group living in Slovakia.

Background: Slovak inhabitants are considered at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the social and educational differences in relation to anthropometric CVD risk factors among central Slovakian adults. Participants: The study population consisted of 100 probands from the central Slovakian region of Orava (50 males and 50 females). According to their social background they were classifi ed as those with high (15 %), average (71 %) or low socioeconomic status (14 %). According to their education they were classifi ed as those having completed only primary education (15 %) secondary education graduates (69 %) or university graduates (16 %). Methods: Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, waist and hip circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfold were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and percentage body fat. Measured blood pressure (BP) was used to classify for hypertension. Results: The probands with high socioeconomic status show the highest means of body fat percentage (24.53 ± 3.11 %) and blood pressure (with 53 % prevalence of hypertension and 60 % of stress); the population with low socioeconomic status had the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking (57.1 %), physical inactivity (64.3 %) and CVD family history (78.6 %). The highest means of BMI (25.48 ± 3.26 kg/m 2 ) were determined in participants with university education (they also show the highest stress rate at 46.7 %). The population with primary education show the highest means of WHR (0.89 ± 0.13) and sBP (138.44 ± 19.64 mmHg), and the highest prevalence of hypertension (56.3 %), physical inactivity (62.5 %) and CVD family history (81.3 %).

Background: Slovaks are known to be a population at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objective: The aim of the study was description of gender and age differences in relation to anthropometric CVD risk factors among Oravian adults. Participants: The study population consisted of 100 participants (50 males and 50 females) representing three age groups: 49% young adults (18-35 yrs), 30% middle-aged adults (36-59 yrs) and 21% of elderly adults (60-80 yrs) from the central-Slovakian region of Orava. Methods: Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height (for BMI), waist and hip circumference (WHR), triceps and subscapular skinfold were used to calculate percentage body fat (BF). Measured blood pressure (BP) was used to classify for hypertension. Results: The males (in comparison with the females) had higher means of BMI (25.58±3.51 kg/m 2), WHR (0.91±0.07), sBP (145±16.57 mmHg) and dBP (87.5±13.67 mmHg), higher prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension (50%), cigarette smoking (36%), and lower levels of physical fitness (64%) and education and socioeconomic status (18%). The highest means of BF (32.5± 3.50%) and BMI (28.95±4.98 kg/m 2) were recorded in elderly females (6% of them were morbidly obese), who had the greatest prevalence of high-risk WHR (75%) and body fat (87.5%). The highest means of WHR (0.96±0.08) and sBP (153.85 ±14.6 mmHg) were determined in elderly males. 14.3% of the eldery participants were obese and 9.5% morbidly obese and 50% the middle-aged men showed the highest prevalence of hypertension II., and 53.8% of the eldery men showed the highest prevalence of hypertension I. Significant gender differences were found in WHR, BF, sBP (p<0.001), BF, BMI (p=0.04) and significant age differences were shown in sBP and BMI (p=0.001), WHR and obesity (p<0.001), dBP (p<0.02) and BMI (p=0.04). We found the strongliest relation BMI and BF in the elder group (r=0.793**) and relation WHR and BMI in males (r=0.551**). A significant correlation between CVD family history and high-risk BF (p=0.006) was determined in males and a significant correlation between cigarette smoking and high-risk BF (p=0.04) in females. We also detected statistically significant association of education and age (p<0.001), especially in females. Conclusion: The results of the study emphasize the need for comprehensive prevention of CVD risk factors among Oravian adults.