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Croatian Medical Journal, Vol. 51 No. 2, 2010.

Original scientific paper

Screening for Diabetes among Roma People Living in Serbia

Teodora Beljić Živković ; Zvezdara University Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Belgrade, Serbia
Milica Marjanović ; Zvezdara University Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Belgrade, Serbia
Stela Prgomelja ; Diabetes Association of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Ivan Soldatović ; Institute for Medical Statistics, Medical Faculty, Belgrade, Serbia
Branka Koprivica ; Stari Slankamen Special Hospital, Stari Slankamen, Serbia
Dragoljub Acković ; April Roma Community Center, Belgrade, Serbia
Rodoljub Živković ; Diabetes Association of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

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Abstract

Aim To investigate the prevalence of diabetes in the Roma
population in Serbia.
Methods We screened 11 urban and 8 rural Roma communities
from October 2006 to May 2008 for the presence
of diabetes. Blood glucose values, name, age, sex, presence
of diabetes, family history, and obesity were recorded.
Results We analyzed the data from 1465 Roma people,
953 women and 512 men (785 in urban and 680 in rural
communities), with mean age of 42.42 ± 15.69 years. Abdominal
obesity was present in 600 (41%) participants.
Eighty seven participants (5.9%) already had diabetes and
there were 76 (5.2%) newly discovered cases of diabetes
type 2. Participants with diabetes were significantly older
(F = 28.33; P < 0.01). Family history for diabetes was positive
in a third of participants. The risk for diabetes was 3.48
times higher in participants with positive family history
(odds ratio [OR], 3.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.37-5.1;
P < 0.01). Abdominal obesity was less frequent in healthy
participants than in participants with diabetes (X2 = 32.55;
P < 0.01). The risk of diabetes in participants with abdominal
obesity was 2 times higher than in the non-obese (OR,
2.11; 95% CI, 1.24-3.55; P < 0.01). Diabetes was significantly
more present in urban communities (X2 = 25.20; P < 0.01).
The risk of developing diabetes was 3.65 times higher in
participants from urban settlements (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.99-
6.66; P < 0.01).
Conclusion Prevalence of diabetes in the Roma people
living in Serbia may possibly be higher than in the general
population of Serbia and needs further investigation.

Keywords

Diabetes; Roma people; Urban Roma population, Rural Roma population; Serbia

Hrčak ID:

53517

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/53517

Publication date:

15.4.2010.

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