Health Inequalities Among Sexual Minority Adults

Abstract

Background Improving the health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals is a Healthy People 2020 goal; however, the IOM highlighted the paucity of information currently available about LGB populations. Purpose To compare health indicators by gender and sexual orientation statuses. Methods Data are from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys conducted January–December of 2010 with population-based samples of non-institutionalized U.S. adults aged over 18 years (N=93,414) in ten states that asked about respondents’ sexual orientation (response rates=41.1%–65.6%). Analyses were stratified by gender and sexual orientation to compare indicators of mental health, physical health, risk behaviors, preventive health behaviors, screening tests, health care utilization, and medical diagnoses. Analyses were conducted in March 2013. Results Overall, 2.4% (95% CI=2.2, 2.7) of the sample identified as LGB. All sexual minority groups were more likely to be current smokers than their heterosexual peers. Compared with heterosexual women, lesbian women had over 30% decreased odds of having an annual routine physical exam, and bisexual women had over 2.5 times the odds of not seeking medical care owing to cost. Compared with heterosexual men, gay men were less likely to be overweight or obese, and bisexual men were twice as likely to report a lifetime asthma diagnosis. Conclusions This study represents one of the largest samples of LGB adults and finds important health inequalities, including that bisexual women bear particularly high burdens of health disparities. Further work is needed to identify causes of and intervention for these disparities.

Comparison of Medical Diagnoses among Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex-Partnered Patients

“…Of these eligible patients, 13,242 (94.8%) reported opposite-sex partners only and 582 (4.2%) reported only same-sex partners. Because of the small sample size, and in recognition of documented health differences for bisexual persons compared with gay and lesbian persons, 4 139 patients reporting both opposite-and same-sex partners were not included in this study, leaving a final sample size of 13,509.…”

“…5 In particular, compared with heterosexual individuals, gay and lesbian persons tend to report more substance abuse, smoking, 1 mental distress, 4 loneliness, 5 experience of more adverse childhood events (eg, abuse), 5 obesity, 2 and more chronic illness (eg, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], diabetes, asthma). 2,4 However, inconsistencies exist across samples, which may be the result of differences in sample demographics, sampling methods, or the influence of other stressful factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) or lack of social support. 4 A limitation throughout the existing literature is the reliance on self-reported health conditions.…”

“…2,4 However, inconsistencies exist across samples, which may be the result of differences in sample demographics, sampling methods, or the influence of other stressful factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) or lack of social support. 4 A limitation throughout the existing literature is the reliance on self-reported health conditions. Only a few studies 6,7 have reported the prevalence of certain medical conditions (eg, obesity, sexually transmitted illnesses) from medical record diagnoses for gay and lesbian patients.…”

The Importance of Ethical Standards in Psychiatry Research and Clinical Practice: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Population

“…[18][19] Bu yüzden LGBT'li bireyler sağlık çalışanlarından olumsuz tepki alacaklarını düşünerek tedaviye gitmekten kaçınmakta veya tedaviyi ertelemektedirler. [20][21] Örne ğin, bir çalışmada lezbiyenlerin heteroseksüel kadınlara kı-yasla yıllık fiziksel muayenelere %30 daha az gittikleri belirtilmiştir. 20 Bir başka çalışmada, LGBT bireylerin doktorlarına açılmaları ile ilgili deneyimleri incelenmiştir.…”

“…[20][21] Örne ğin, bir çalışmada lezbiyenlerin heteroseksüel kadınlara kı-yasla yıllık fiziksel muayenelere %30 daha az gittikleri belirtilmiştir. 20 Bir başka çalışmada, LGBT bireylerin doktorlarına açılmaları ile ilgili deneyimleri incelenmiştir. Hastaların %70'i doktorlarına açılırken, doktorların sadece %29'u danışanlarının cinsel yönelimini sormuştur.…”