Abstract
Objectives
Ethnic differences in the occurrence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are reported on various populations across the world, but evidence on Roma is lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the relative risk (RR) of ESRD for Roma who constitute a major minority in Slovakia.
Methods
Patients treated by means of hemodialysis during 2005–2008 were questioned for their ethnicity. Rates of ESRD among Roma and non-Roma based on hemodialysis data were calculated as well as the RR of Roma for ESRD. The latter was repeated after standardization for differences in age of both populations.
Results
Roma represented 11.6 % of all hemodialyzed patients. The RR of ESRD for Roma was 1.34, compared to the majority population. After age standardization, the RR for Roma was 2.85.
Conclusion
This study shows that the risk for ESRD is significantly higher for Roma than for non-Roma. A genetic propensity of Roma to renal failure may partially explain the higher risk. Moreover, a poorer control of risk factors for ESRD in Slovak Roma contributes to the increased risk.
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Acknowledgments
Authors would like to thank Fresenius Dialysis centers and tertiary pediatric nephrology centers in Slovakia for their participation in the data collection. This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract no. APVV-0220-10. This work was supported by the project ‘Centre for Excellent Research of Atherosclerosis and its Complications—Myocardial Infarction and Stroke’, Operational Program of Research and Development financed by European Fund for Regional Development.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Kolvek, G., Rosicova, K., Rosenberger, J. et al. End-stage renal disease among Roma and non-Roma: Roma are at risk. Int J Public Health 57, 751–754 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-012-0365-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-012-0365-x