Transgenerational Effects of Traumatic Historical Events on the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome/ Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Romanian Population

Abstract

Concerns for successful public health management are integrated into the core business of government-responsible institutions. Diseases associated with metabolic syndrome are very common in the Romanian population. In our study, we focused on the cardiovascular and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The article starts from the hypothesis that the increased incidence of such diseases is determined today by the cumulative effect of traumatic historical events such as the famine of 1946-47 and the communist political regime specific to the 80s and 90s. This study aims to present the arguments that indicate the correlation of economic variables whose variation can be easily determined by traumatic events that affected the economy, with variables able to measure the incidence of various diseases usually associated with metabolic syndrome or NAFLD. A series of statistical data were analyzed from the official sources available in the form of consecutive value data for the 1995-2018 period. The results highlighted a direct and strong link between the variable gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in USD, 2011 purchasing power parity (PPP) and specific incidence of circulatory, nutritional endocrine and metabolic diseases, as well as a strong and inverse link between GDP and infant’s deaths per 1000 live births. Conclusions highlight that the effects of traumatic historical events must be made aware through medical education of the population, supporting the idea according to which the incidence of various metabolic diseases is greater for the offspring of those who have actively suffered during such events.