Excess winter mortality of Roma population in Serbia, 1992-2007

Seasonal fluctuations in mortality are associated with age, outdoor temperature, influenza, health care provision, lifestyle risk factors and economic factors. In the Republic of Serbia almost one half of the Roma population lives in poverty and their housing conditions are very poor. The aim of this paper is to describe and compare excess winter mortality (EWM) in Roma and non-Roma population in Serbia from 1992 to 2007.

Using the national mortality database, this study compares EWM index and rates in Roma and general populations in Serbia. Mean winter temperature and ethnicity are analysed against the results for relative EWM by multiple linear regression adjusted for age.

Frequency analysis showed that Roma population had significantly higher EWM rate per 10,000 (129.2 vs. 76.6) for all causes, all respiratory diseases (26.5 vs. 8.0), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (23.0 vs. 5.2) in comparison to non-Roma population. Influenza and pneumonia related deaths represented a small proportion of EWM in both populations. Cardiovascular EWM rate was slightly higher among non-Roma population. Regression analysis demonstrates that Roma ethnicity was associated with significant increase of respiratory EWM rate (regression coefficient (B) = 1.49; 95% CI: 0.45-2.54). There was no relationship between ethnicity and cardiovascular and all causes EWM rates.

Although both Roma and non-Roma populations in Serbia suffer from very high rates of excess winter mortality, Roma are significantly more vulnerable. EWM rate from chronic lower respiratory diseases is more than four times higher among Roma people and suggests that they represent one of the most important health problems in Roma population in Serbia.