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Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is one of the modifiable lifestyle factors that play an important role in the prevention of non-communicable (especially cardiovascular) diseases. Certain genetic factors predisposing to LTPA have been previously described, but their effects and applicability on different ethnicities are unknown. Our present study aims to investigate the genetic background of LTPA using seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a sample of 330 individuals from the Hungarian general (HG) and 314 from the Roma population. The LTPA in general and three intensity categories of it (vigorous, moderate, and walking) were examined as binary outcome variables. Allele frequencies were determined, individual correlations of SNPs to LTPA, in general, were determined, and an optimized polygenetic score (oPGS) was created. Our results showed that the allele frequencies of four SNPs differed significantly between the two study groups. The C allele of rs10887741 showed a significant positive correlation with LTPA in general (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12–1.97; p = 0.006). Three SNPs (rs10887741, rs6022999, and rs7023003) were identified by the process of PGS optimization, whose cumulative effect shows a strong significant positive association with LTPA in general (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.16–1.70; p < 0.001). The oPGS showed a significantly lower value in the Roma population compared with the HG population (oPGSRoma: 2.19 ± SD: 0.99 vs. oPGSHG: 2.70 ± SD: 1.06; p < 0.001). In conclusion, the coexistence of genetic factors that encourage leisure-time physical activity shows a more unfavorable picture among Roma, which may indirectly contribute to their poor health status.

Our study focuses on examining physical activity, as one of the most influential health determinants by domains and dimensions among Roma, the largest vulnerable ethnic minority in Europe. The study was carried out on a sample representative of the Hungarian Roma (HR) population (n = 350) living in segregated colonies in Northeast Hungary in comparison with the Hungarian general (HG) population sample (n = 343) from the same region. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long-form and physical activity was quantified as MET-min/week. Scores were calculated for walking, moderate and vigorous-intensity activities for each domain (work, transport, domestic and gardening, leisure) and as an overall total. The HR population—similarly to the HG—is characterized by moderate or high physical activity; however, this level is achieved by work and housework/gardening instead of leisure time activities, which is worryingly low among HR females, but its prevalence is significantly (p < 0.001) lower in both sexes than among the HG population in the vigorous activity category. HR men move (walk and cycle) significantly more during transport than HG men. Our results may direct the attention of decision-makers to improve the health of Roma by increasing leisure-time physical activity.

Harmful alcohol consumption has been considered a major public health issue globally, with the amounts of alcohol drunk being highest in the WHO European Region including Hungary. Alcohol consumption behaviors are complex human traits influenced by environmental factors and numerous genes. Beyond alcohol metabolization and neurotransmitter gene polymorphisms, taste preference-related genetic variants may also mediate alcohol consumption behaviors. Applying the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) we aimed to elucidate the underlying genetic determinants of alcohol consumption patterns considering taste preference gene polymorphisms (TAS1R3 rs307355, TAS2R38 rs713598, TAS2R19 rs10772420 and CA6 rs2274333) in the Hungarian general (HG) and Roma (HR) populations. Alcohol consumption assessment was available for 410 HG and 387 HR individuals with 405 HG and 364 HR DNA samples being obtained for genotyping. No significant associations were found between TAS1R3 rs307355, TAS2R19 rs10772420, and CA6 rs2274333 polymorphisms and alcohol consumption phenotypes. Significant associations were identified between TAS2R38 rs713598 and the number of standard drinks consumed in the HG sample (genotype GG negatively correlated with the number of standard drinks; coef: −0.136, p = 0.028) and the prevalence of having six or more drinks among Roma (a negative correlation was identified in the recessive model; genotype GG, coef: −0.170, p = 0.049), although, none of these findings passed the Bonferroni-corrected probability criterion (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, our findings may suggest that alcohol consumption is partially driven by genetically determined taste preferences in our study populations. Further studies are required to strengthen the findings and to understand the drivers of alcohol consumption behavior in more depth.

Our study focuses on examining physical activity, as one of the most influential health determinants by domains and dimensions among Roma, the largest vulnerable ethnic minority in Europe. The study was carried out on a sample representative of the Hungarian Roma (HR) population (

Background Besides modifiable risk factors, genetic susceptibility may also explain the high cardiovascular disease burden of the Roma population. Objectives Aim of this study was to define the genetic susceptibility of Hungarian Roma to venous thrombosis (VT) and comparing it to that of the general population. Methods Fifty-two SNPs associated with VT (in F2, F5, F9, F11, F15, FGA, FGB, FGG, CYP4V2, KLKB1 and vWF) were selected and analyzed in the group of Roma (N = 962) and general (N = 1492) subjects collected by cross-sectional studies. Allele frequencies and genetic risk scores (GRS, unweighted and weighted) were computed for the study groups and compared to estimate the joint effects of SNPs. Results The majority of the susceptible alleles were more prevalent in the Roma population, and both GRS and wGRS were found to be significantly higher in Roma than in the general population (GRS: 41.83 ± 5.78 vs. 41.04 ± 6.04; wGRS: 7.78 ± 1.28 vs. 7.46 ± 1.33, p = .001). Only 2.39% of subjects in the Roma population were in the bottom fifth of the wGRS (wGRS≤0.19) compared with 3.62% of those in the general population (p = .080); 2.88% of the general subjects were in the top fifth of the wGRS (wGRS≥10.02), while 4.26% of the Roma population were (p = .066). Conclusion In conclusion, the Roma population seems to have increased genetic susceptibility to VT. This might have important implications in the future in identifying possible new opportunities for targeted prevention and treatment for those subgroups in the populations who are at greater risk for VT development.

This study was designed to characterize the spatial distribution of metformin medication used as first-line monotherapy for prevention of T2DM in relationship with the socioeconomic status (level of deprivation) and T2DM mortality at district level in a nationwide cross-sectional ecological study for the first time in a European country, Hungary. Risk analysis was used to estimate the relationships between socioeconomic status, characterized by tertiles of deprivation index, and mortality caused by diabetes, and metformin medication (both prescription and redemption) for the years of 2018 and 2019 at the district level. The spatial distribution of districts with a higher relative frequency of metformin prescriptions and redemptions showed a positive correlation with socio-economic deprivation. Significant association between the relatively high T2DM mortality and the highest level of deprivation could also be detected, but less-deprived regions with high T2DM mortality and low metformin utilization could also be identified. Although the statistical associations detected in this ecological study do not indicate a causal relationship, it is reasonable to suppose that the underuse of metformin medication may contribute to the unfavourable T2DM mortality in certain regions. Our findings underline the need for more effective preventive services including metformin medication to decrease T2DM morbidity and mortality burden.

It is reasonable to suppose that poor diet underlies the unfavorable health status of the Roma population of Europe. Previously in the framework of a complex health survey, fruit and vegetable consumption, quantity of sugar added, salting frequency; bitter, salty, sweet and fat taste preferences were evaluated of Hungarian (HG, n = 410) and Roma (HR, n = 387) populations. In the present study the associations of taste and food preferences with TAS1R3, CD36, SCNN1B, TRPV1, TAS2R38, TAS2R19 and CA6 polymorphisms were tested in the same samples. Genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between the two populations. Although we initially observed associations between certain genetic polymorphisms and taste and food preferences in our study samples, none of the p values remained significant after the multiple test correction. However, some of our results could be considered promising (0.05

Background It is generally accepted that early detection of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is important to prevent the development of complications and comorbidities, as well as premature death. In addition to the environmental risk factors, genetic factors may also contribute to the development of T2DM. The aim of our study is to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which have an effect on the early onset of T2DM in the Hungarian population. Methods This study included 891 T2DM patients (438 males and 453 females). The onset of T2DM varied between 25 and 90 years of age. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out for 16 SNPs to define how they are associated with the patient's age at onset of T2DM and genetic risk score was calculated for each patient by computation of alleles identified as risk ones. Linear regression analyses were used to estimate the effect of GRS on the early onset of T2DM independently of conventional risk factors (sex, BMI and TG/HDL-C ratio). Results Six SNPs (rs111875 in HHEX gene, rs560887 in G6PC2 gene, rs11071657 in the C2CD4B gene, rs5219 in KCNJ11 gene, rs10830963 in MTNR1B gene and rs11671664 in GIPR gene) were identified as risk polymorphism in the correlation analysis and GRS was calculated by defining their number/subject. The GRS showed significant association (β=-0.486, p = 0.008) with younger age at onset of T2DM. The correlation of GRS with the risk of earlier onset of T2DM was significant in the male population (β= -0.581, p = 0.024) and close to significant in female one (β= -0.471, p = 0.068). Conclusions Our findings indicate a considerable genetic predisposition for early onset of T2DM, which is mainly attributed to the cumulative effect of 6 SNPs presently known to be susceptible alleles. This set of SNPs and the genetic risk score calculated can be used for estimating the risk of earlier onset of T2DM on individual and population levels. Key messages SNPs were identified to play a role in the early onset of T2DM in the Hungarian population. The genetic risk score calculated by computation of susceptible alleles can be used for risk estimation of early onset of T2DM.

Background Prevalence of smoking in Hungarian Roma (HR) population is two to five times higher than in Hungarian general (HG) population. Our study aims to examine genetic susceptibility and other possible determinants associated to smoking behaviours in these populations. Methods A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was designed in HG (N = 412) and HR (N = 402) populations. Ten Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped known to be robustly linked to smoking behaviours. Risk allele frequencies were compared. Additive genetic risk scores (unweighted GRS and weighted GRS) were constructed to compare genetic load from SNPs in genes NRXN1, CHRNA5/4, AGPHD1, MAOA, TRPC7, KCNJ6, GABRA4, and CYP2A6. Smoking behaviour were associated with GRSs and confounders (age, gender, BMI, socioeconomic status-SES) in several regression models. SES was calculated based on Modified Kuppuswamy scale 2019. Results Risk allele frequencies of four SNPs were found to be different between populations (p Conclusions Socioeconomic status was shown as a priority indicator based on multifactorial regression analysis. The highest efforts should be focused on improving the SES of Roma population. Key messages Result of this study indicate the priority impact of SES instead of genetic susceptibility on Roma smoking behaviours variations. Interventions on improving socioeconomic status of the Roma might result in decreasing their cigarette consumption.

Background The metabolic syndrome (MS) based on insulin resistance (IR) is a cluster of conditions indicating an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to define valid cut-off values for surrogate measures for IR to predicting the risk for the development of MS in the Hungarian general (HG) and Roma (HR) populations. Methods This study included 397 HG and 368 HR subjects aged 20-64 years from a complex health survey in 2018/2019. Four surrogate measures, namely the homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR), McAuley index (McA), TG to HDL-cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) and TG and glucose index (TyG) were calculated for all participants. The cut-off values were determined as the value with the highest Youden index (YI) on the basis of results obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the development of MS on separate and combined populations. Results Since no significant difference could be detected between the results obtained on separate populations, cut-off values defined on the combined one are proposed to use for risk prediction. The area under the ROC curve was 0.753 (95%CI: 0.718-0.787) for HOMA-IR, 0.827 (95%CI: 0.797-0.856) for McA, 0.843 (95%CI: 0.814-0.872) for TG/HDL-C ratio and 0.862 (95%CI: 0.835-0.889) for TyG. The cut-off value was 2.32 (sensitivity (sens.) 70.9%; specificity (spec.) 69.0%; YI: 0.399) for HOMA-IR, 5.989 (sens. 69.7%; spec. 82.7%; YI: 0.524) for McA, 1.274 (sens. 73.4; spec. 84.3%; YI: 0.574) for TG/HDL-C ratio and 4.694 (sens. 77.2%; spec. 84.3%; YI: 0.615) for TyG. Concerning the fact, that the TyG has the best indicative power for predicting IR to the estimation of MS risk in both populations the IR/MS prevalence was defined by using TyG and found to be as high as 42.3% and 40.5% in the HG and HR populations, respectively. Conclusions Based on our results the TyG index could be a useful supplementary method for identifying individuals at risk for MS. Key messages The optimal cut-off points’ four surrogate indices of insulin resistance for the prediction of metabolic syndrome did not differ significantly between the Hungarian general and Roma populations. The triglyceride and glucose index proved to be the strongest predictor for the risk of metabolic syndrome in the Hungarian general and Roma populations.

Data mainly from one-off surveys clearly show that the health of Roma, the largest ethnic minority of Europe, is much worse than that of the general population. However, results from comprehensive exploratory studies are missing. The aim of our study was to create a complex database for comparative and association studies to better understand the background of the very unfavourable health of Roma, especially the high burden of cardiometabolic diseases. A three-pillar (questionnaire-based, physical and laboratory examinations) health survey was carried out on randomly selected samples of the Hungarian general (HG, n = 417) and Roma (HR, n = 415) populations, and a database consisting of more than half a million datapoints was created. Using selected data, the prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and of its components were determined, and to estimate the risk of insulin resistance (IR), surrogate measures (the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, McAuley and TyG indices and the TG/HDL-C ratio) were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and Youden’s method were used to define the optimal cut-off values of each IR index. The prevalence of MetS was very high in both study populations (HG: 39.8%, HR: 44.0%) with no statistically significant difference between the two groups in females or males. The prevalence of MetS showed a very marked increase in the HR 35–49 years age group. Among surrogate measures, the TyG index showed the greatest power for predicting IR/MetS at a cut-off value of 4.69 (77% sensitivity, 84% specificity) and indicated a 42.3% (HG) and 40.5% (HR) prevalence of IR. The prevalence of MetS and IR is almost equally very unfavourable in both groups; thus, the factors underlying the high premature mortality burden of Roma should be further clarified by investigating the full spectrum of risk factors available in the database, with a special focus on the access of Roma people to preventive and curative health services.

Background Smoking status, dependence and cessation efforts of the disadvantaged Hungarian Roma living in segregated settlements were compared to those of the general population. Methods Data were collected through survey. Each study group consists of 500 randomly drawn subjects, and are representative of the adult (18-64) general and Roma population, living in two counties of North-East Hungary. Questions on smoking from the European Health Interview Survey were used with some modifications. Prevalence data were analysed according to age strata (18-29, 30-44 and 45-64 years) by chi2 test, and were compared to data from 2003 and 2014. Results In Roma the proportion of never smokers is much less compared to the general ones (men:27.27% vs.75%, women:38.6% vs.70.75%, p < 0.05). Less Roma reported never smoking in all age compared to 2014, increasing trend can be found in the general population since 2003. Smoking prevalence is higher in Roma in all ages (72.73% vs.20 83%; 68.42% vs.28.42%; 59.02 vs. 32.26%, p < 0.05, respectively). Interestingly, the prevalence of Roma men smokers is decreasing by age, in the general population the trend is the opposite. Heavy smoker status is the highest in 30-44 age group of both populations. Increasing trend of heavy smoking can be detected in the Roma, but the opposite holds for general population compared to 2014. Half of the Roma smoke within 5 minutes after wakeup (50% vs. 36.92%, p < 0.05), smoke hand-rolled cigarettes (68.91%vs 30.77%, p < 0.05), higher proportion of them tried to quit (34.78% vs. 23.38%, p < 0.05) but smaller proportion of them obtained advise on how to quit (48.53% vs.59.09%, p < 0.05). Initiation starts earlier age among them (men: 15.1 vs.16.6, women: 16.2 vs.18.2, p < 0.05). Conclusions Regular smoking (especially heavy) is much higher in the Roma and decreasing by age compared to the general in all age-groups. The 30-44 age group of Roma mean are exclusively heavy smokers but half of the Roma show effort to quit. Key messages Tailoring cessation programs for Roma men especially those belong to 30-44 age group is a priority to reduce tobacco-related adverse effects. Complex public health programmes that taking into account special socio-cultural environment and lower formal education level of the Roma are needed.

Background Behind the unfavorable health status of the Roma population, harmful health behavior is also supposed to exist, such as unhealthy nutrition. Methods In the framework of a complex comparative health survey individuals, representative of the Hungarian general (n = 410) and Roma populations (n = 387) were randomly enrolled. In the questionnaire-based part of the survey, sweet, fat, salty and bitter taste preferences were ascertained by question items measuring taste and food preferences. Preference for sweet versus salty foods was also analyzed. Questions from the Hungarian version of the European Health Interview Survey were included, to characterize fruit and vegetable consumption and to determine the quantity of added sugar to consumed foods and beverages and the frequency of salting without tasting the food. The data were analyzed using STATA 9.0 statistical software. Results Roma reported significantly less frequent consumption of fresh fruits (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.43-2.37, p < 0.001) and vegetables (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.27-2.11, p < 0.001) than the Hungarian subjects. Roma had higher preferences for sweet (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.21-2.04, p < 0.001) and salty foods (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03-1.71, p = 0.029) and added higher quantities of sugar to consumed foods and beverages (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.38-2.57, p < 0.001) and salted the food without tasting more often (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.64-2.88, p < 0.001). They could be characterized by lower preferences for bitter tasting kohlrabi (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49-0.82, p = 0.001), grapefruit (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.36-0.60, p < 0.001), black coffee (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.36-0.64, p < 0.001) and bitter chocolate (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44-0.72, p < 0.001) and preferred sweet snacks versus salty ones (OR = 0.56 for salty snacks, 95% CI: 0.42-0.74, p < 0.001). Conclusions The Hungarian Roma diet may be linked to taste preferences predisposing to unhealthy nutrition. This assumption needs further studies on their nutritional behavior. Key messages Hungarian Roma taste preferences may predispose to unhealthy nutrition. Understanding the determinants of food choices is essential to the development of public health strategies targeting the Roma.

Background Increased mortality and short life expectancy of Roma are well known epidemiological findings which can be partially explained by the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among them. This study assesses the prevalence of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (age, sex, systolic blood pressure, smoking and diabetes status, elevated total and reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C)) and the estimation of 10-year risk of development of CVD (CVD in general, coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke) and that of death from CHD and CVD based on the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in case of the Hungarian general (HG) and Roma (HR) populations. Methods A complex health survey incl. questionnaire based interview, physical examination and laboratory test was carried out in 2018 on the HG and HR populations. The prevalence of different cardiovascular risk factors was defined and FRS was computed and compared between the HG (n = 378) and HR (n = 386) populations. Results The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher among Roma females compared to females of general population (17.8% vs. 7.7%; p = 0.001) while the average systolic blood pressure level was less elevated among Roma males (127.9 mmHg vs. 129.4 mmHg; p = 0.020). The prevalence of smoking (males: 63.1% vs. 33.7%; females: 67.6% vs. 31%; p < 0.001) and reduced HDL-C level (males: 40% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.014; females: 55.5% vs. 35.1%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in both sexes among Roma. The 10-year estimated risk for development of CHD, MI and CVD and the death from CHD was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in both sexes among Roma compared to the general population while the average risk scores for stroke and death from CVD were significantly higher only among Roma men. Conclusions Our results show that both sexes in the Roma population have a significantly higher risk for 10-year development of CVD compared to the Hungarian general population. Key messages The Roma population have a significantly higher risk for 10-year development of cardiovascular diseases and death from them based on the Framingham Risk Score. The targeted cardiovascular interventions should be focus on reduce smoking and provide information on the recognition and treatment of diabetes and lipid disorders among Roma.

Objectives Large-scale association studies that mainly involve European populations identified many genetic loci related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, one of the most important indicators of the risk for cardiovascular diseases. The question with intense speculation of whether the effect estimates obtained from European populations for different HDL-C level-related SNPs are applicable to the Roma ethnicity, the largest minority group in Europe with a South Asian origin, was addressed in the present study. Design The associations between 21 SNPs (in the genes LIPC(G), CETP, GALNT2, HMGCP, ABCA1, KCTD10 and WWOX) and HDL-C levels were examined separately in adults of the Hungarian general (N = 1542) and Roma (N = 646) populations by linear regression. Individual effects (direction and size) of single SNPs on HDL-C levels were computed and compared between the study groups and with data published in the literature. Results Significant associations between SNPs and HDL-C levels were more frequently found in general subjects than in Roma subjects (11 SNPs in general vs. 4 SNPs in Roma). The CETP gene variants rs1532624, rs708272 and rs7499892 consistently showed significant associations with HDL-C levels across the study groups (p ˂ 0.05), indicating a possible causal variant(s) in this region. Although nominally significant differences in effect size were found for three SNPs (rs693 in gene APOB, rs9989419 in gene CETP, and rs2548861 in gene WWOX) by comparing the general and Roma populations, most of these SNPs did not have a significant effect on HDL-C levels. The β coefficients for SNPs in the Roma population were found to be identical both in direction and magnitude to the effect obtained previously in large-scale studies on European populations. Conclusions The effect of the vast majority of the SNPs on HDL-C levels could be replicated in the Hungarian general and Roma populations, which indicates that the effect size measurements obtained from the literature can be used for risk estimation for both populations.

In familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), carriers profit from presymptomatic diagnosis and early treatment. Due to the autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, first degree relatives of patients are at 50% risk. A program to identify healthy relatives at risk of premature cardiovascular problems, funded by the Netherlands government until 2014, raised questions on privacy and autonomy in view of the chosen active approach of family members. Several countries are building cascade screening programs inspired by Dutch experience, but meanwhile, the Netherlands&rsquo, screening program itself is in transition. Insight in stakeholders&rsquo, views on approaching family members is lacking. Literature and policy documents were studied, and stakeholders were interviewed on pros and cons of actively approaching healthy relatives. Sociotechnical analysis explored new roles and responsibilities, with uptake, privacy, autonomy, psychological burden, resources, and awareness as relevant themes. Stakeholders agree on the importance of early diagnosis and informing the family. Dutch healthcare typically focuses on cure, rather than prevention. Barriers to cascade screening are paying an own financial contribution, limited resources for informing relatives, and privacy regulation. To benefit from predictive, personalized, and preventive medicine, the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in genetic testing as a preventive strategy, and informing family members, need to be carefully realigned.

Previous findings showed that reduced plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are more frequent in all age groups of the Hungarian Roma compared to the general population. It suggests that genetic factors may exist behind this phenomenon. Our present study was designed to test this hypothesis, i.e., to define whether genetic factors contribute to the higher prevalence of reduced HDL-C among Roma. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (N = 21) contributing to the variation in plasma HDL-C concentrations were analysed in the Hungarian Roma (N = 646) and general (N = 1542) populations.Genetic risk scores, unweighted (GRS) and weighted (wGRS), were computed and compared. Associations between the GRSs and the prevalence of reduced HDL-C levels were analysed.The GRS and wGRS were significantly higher in the Roma compared to the general population (GRS: 22.2 ± 3.2 vs. 21.5 ± 3.3; wGRS: 0.57 ± 0.1 vs. 0.53 ± 0.1; p0.001). One half per cent of Roma subjects were in the bottom fifth of the wGRS (wGRS≤ 0.3) compared with 1.8% of those in the general population (p=0.025), while 5% of the Roma subjects were in the top fifth of the wGRS (wGRS≥ 0.75) compared with 2.6% of those in the general population (p=0.004). The GRS showed similar correlation with reduced plasma HDL-C levels in the two populations, whilst the wGRS showed stronger correlation with the trait among Roma after controlling for confounders.These results strongly suggest that genetic factors contribute to the higher prevalence of reduced HDL-C levels among Roma, so interventions aiming to improve Roma health status need to consider their increased genetic susceptibility.

Background Studies showed that health status of Roma population, which represents the largest minority in Central and Eastern Europe, is significantly worse than that of the general population. It is recently pointed out that the prevalence of raised fasting plasma glucose or known type 2 diabetes mellitus (FPG/T2D) were significantly higher in all age groups in the Hungarian Roma (HR) population than in the Hungarian general (HG) …