Striking Ethnic Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health in Albania: Divergent Burdens Across Minority Groups

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Roma/Egyptian minorities in Albania had significantly higher adjusted odds of cardiometabolic conditions, including hypertension (OR 1.3) and diabetes (OR 2.0), compared to ethnic Albanians.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Cardiometabolic conditions (n=14869). Intervention: Roma/Egyptian ethnicity vs. Ethnic Albanians. Primary outcome: Hypertension (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6, p=0.004).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Roma/Egyptian minorities in Albania have significantly higher adjusted odds of cardiometabolic conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, compared to ethnic Albanians. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Jonida Stefa; Brizida Refatllari; Gentiana Qirjako; Gabriele Kerr; Thomas Beaney; Ergys Ramosacaj; Genc Burazeri

doi:10.1007/s40615-026-03154-0

August 19, 2026Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health DisparitiesOpen Access

Striking Ethnic Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health in Albania: Divergent Burdens Across Minority Groups

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Key result

Roma and Egyptian minorities are linked to ~30% higher hypertension odds versus ethnic Albanians.

OR 1.3
95% CI 1.1-1.6
P=0.004
n=14,869

Why the study?

Disparities in chronic conditions among different ethnic minorities in Albania were assessed, controlling for demographic and behavioural factors.

Key Points

To evaluate ethnic disparities in preexisting cardiometabolic conditions while adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and behavioural factors.
Conducted a cross-sectional screening campaign (May Measurement Month 2023) in Albania using convenience sampling to recruit N=14,869 adults (mean age 49 ± 15 years; 62% females; 93% Albanians, 5% Roma/Egyptian, 2% other minorities).
Recorded three blood pressure measurements and administered structured questionnaires assessing preexisting conditions, demographic variables, and behavioural factors.
Performed multivariable binary logistic regression adjusted for age group, sex, educational attainment, current smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity.
Roma/Egyptian participants had significantly higher odds of hypertension (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.09–1.55, P = 0.004), diabetes (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.61–2.40, P < 0.001), previous myocardial infarction (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 2.10–3.36, P < 0.001), previous stroke (OR = 4.09, 95% CI = 3.15–5.32, P < 0.001), heart failure (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.85–3.12, P < 0.001), and kidney failure (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.26–2.21, P = 0.015) relative to ethnic Albanians.
Other ethnic minorities exhibited significantly lower odds of hypertension (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.42–0.74, P < 0.001), diabetes (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.35–0.88, P = 0.012), previous myocardial infarction (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21–0.89, P = 0.022), and kidney failure (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.13–0.80, P = 0.015) compared to ethnic Albanians.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=14,869)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

P

Population

14,869 adults aged 18 years and older in Albania, screened for blood pressure and preexisting cardiometabolic conditions in a cross-sectional campaign.

E

Exposure

Roma/Egyptian ethnicity or other ethnic minority status (observational exposure)

C

Comparator

Ethnic Albanian majority

O

Outcome

Preexisting conditions including hypertension, diabetes, previous myocardial infarction, previous stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.6)

Absolute Event Rate: 54% vs 39%

p-value: p=0.004

Roma and Egyptian minorities in Albania face a profoundly higher burden of cardiometabolic conditions compared to the ethnic Albanian majority, independent of demographic and behavioral factors.

Limitations

Convenience sampling may not be fully representative of the Albanian population
Survival bias may have influenced findings
Self-reported information on preexisting conditions may introduce recall bias and differential misclassification
Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference
Residual confounding due to unmeasured social determinants of health
Absence of anthropometric and metabolic measures
Survival bias may have underestimated disparities
Self-reported information on preexisting conditions may have introduced recall bias, underdiagnosis, and differential misclassification

Implication

Ethnic disparities in chronic conditions among Albanian minorities merit clinical attention; leaves open causal pathways and intervention targets.

Abstract

AIM: To assess disparities in chronic conditions among different ethnic minorities in Albania, controlling for demographic and behavioural factors. METHODS: The May Measurement Month campaign, a cross-sectional study recruiting adults through convenience sampling, was conducted in Albania in 2023 (MMM23). Three blood pressure measurements were recorded and a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire gathered information on participants' demographics, behavioural factors, and preexisting conditions. Multivariable-adjusted binary logistic regression assessed the independent association of ethnicity with preexisting conditions. RESULTS: Overall, 14,869 individuals were recruited (aged 49 ± 15 years; 62% females; ethnicity: 93% Albanians, 5% Roma/Egyptian, and 2% other ethnic minorities). After adjustment for demographic and behavioural factors, relative to ethnic Albanians, Roma/Egyptian participants had significantly higher odds of hypertension (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6), diabetes (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.6-2.4), previous myocardial infarction (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 2.1-3.4), previous stroke (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 3.2-5.3), heart failure (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.9-3.1), and kidney failure (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.3-2.2). Conversely, there was an inverse association between other ethnic minorities (mainly Greek) and hypertension (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.7), diabetes (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.9), previous myocardial infarction (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9), and kidney failure (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1-0.8) relative to ethnic Albanians. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal profound ethnic disparities in cardiometabolic health in Albania, with Roma/Egyptian minorities displaying elevated risks, suggesting embedded structural disadvantages. In contrast, other minorities showed inverse associations with several conditions, suggesting heterogeneity in risk profiles that merits further exploration. These disparities highlight the urgent need for equity-oriented health policies, culturally tailored prevention programs, and strengthened surveillance systems to ensure that marginalized populations in Albania are not left behind.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Stefa et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiometabolic conditions (n=14,869). Roma/Egyptian ethnicity vs. Ethnic Albanians was evaluated on Hypertension (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6, p=0.004). Roma/Egyptian minorities in Albania had significantly higher adjusted odds of cardiometabolic conditions, including hypertension (OR 1.3) and diabetes (OR 2.0), compared to ethnic Albanians.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895eaeca7ade938187cbd1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-026-03154-0

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Striking Ethnic Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health in Albania: Divergent Burdens Across Minority Groups

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Striking Ethnic Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health in Albania: Divergent Burdens Across Minority Groups

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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