Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in an indigenous minority population. The All-Ireland Traveller Health Study

Abstract

Background: The Traveller community are an indigenous minority group in Great Britain and Ireland who experience premature mortality. While minority populations worldwide are known to have high rates of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), Traveller CVD risk has not previously been defined.

Design: All-Ireland cross-sectional census survey of the Traveller minority population (n = 10,615 families).

Methods: A subsample of adult respondents completed a health survey (n = 2023). CVD was defined as self-report of doctor-diagnosed heart attack, angina, or stroke. CVD risk factors and measures of social position were examined in the Traveller group using age-adjusted prevalence and prevalence ratios (PR). Comparisons were made with a general population sample of low socioeconomic status.

Results: Age-adjusted prevalence of CVD in the Traveller population was 5.6% (95% CI 4.6-6.8), similar to that in the comparator population. Compared to those without CVD, Travellers with CVD had a higher prevalence of self-report of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, current smoking, and a measure of distrust. Compared with the general population sample, Travellers had a higher prevalence of diabetes (adjusted PR 2.8, 95% CI 2.1-3.8) and lifestyle-related risk factors such as smoking (PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.4), fried food consumption (PR 2.8, 95% CI 2.4-3.2), and physical inactivity (PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.4).

Conclusions: This comprehensive census survey confirms CVD as an important health risk in the economically disadvantaged Irish Traveller community. Our findings add to the international knowledge base on minority populations and CVD risk.