Péter Pikó1, Szilvia Fiatal2, Zsigmond Kósa3, János Sándor2, Róza Ádány4. 1. MTA-DE Public Health Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary; Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary; WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary. 3. Department of Health Visitor Methodology and Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza 4400, Hungary. 4. MTA-DE Public Health Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary; Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary; WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4028, Hungary. Electronic address: adany.roza@sph.unideb.hu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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; p<0.001). 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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 AND AIMS: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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; p<0.001). 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Authors: Zelmira Macejova; Pavol Kristian; Martin Janicko; Monika Halanova; Sylvia Drazilova; Daniela Antolova; Maria Marekova; Daniel Pella; Andrea Madarasova-Geckova; Peter Jarcuska; HepaMeta Team Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Mohammed Merzah; Zsigmond Kósa; János Sándor; Shewaye Natae; Péter Pikó; Róza Ádány; Szilvia Fiatal Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-19 Impact factor: 3.390