Conversion therapy is bad for the heart.
This is according to a study – “Conversion Therapy Exposure and Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk” by James K. Gibb, Joshua M. Schrock, Madison Shea Smith, et al – that appeared in JAMA Network Open.
The researchers noted that sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGICE), commonly known as conversion therapy, persist despite having been discredited due to their harmful mental health impact. Understanding the health consequences of SOGICE is critical, particularly for conditions exacerbated by stress, such as cardiovascular disease. They, then, sought to investigate the association between SOGICE exposure and cardiovascular disease risk.
This cohort study drew on data from the observational cohort study RADAR, which included sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults assigned male at birth (AMAB) in Chicago, Illinois. All data for this analysis were collected cross-sectionally during the same study visit for each participant between December 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024. Participants who completed SOGICE exposure measures and had cardiovascular health data were eligible; participants with incomplete data were excluded.
Primary outcomes were diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured via automatic monitors, systemic inflammation (SI) assessed through plasma biomarkers, and self-reported hypertension or high blood pressure (HHBP) diagnosis. Regression analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and behavioral covariates.
Some of the key findings included:
- Among 703 participants, 540 (76.8%) identified as cisgender, and 163 (23.2%) identified as transgender or gender diverse.
- Seventy-two participants (10.2%) reported exposure to SOGICE. Exposed participants had higher SI levels (β = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.17-1.49; P = .02), increased DBP (β = 3.46; 95% CI, 0.60-6.32; P = .02), elevated SBP (β = 4.28; 95% CI, 0.68-7.87; P = .02), and greater odds of self-reported HHBP diagnosis (odds ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.19-3.54; P = .003) compared with nonexposed participants.
- Associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates.
Exposure to SOGICE was associated with adverse cardiovascular health indicators, including elevated DBP and SBP, increased SI, and higher odds of self-reported HHBP. And – stressed the researchers – these findings “underscore the need for public health and policy interventions to enforce and strengthen bans on SOGICE practices. Recognizing the cardiovascular health consequences of SOGICE contributes to addressing SGM health disparities and emphasizes the importance of affirmative care approaches that prioritize the well-being of SGM individuals.”
“We found that exposure to SOGICE was significantly associated with blood pressure and a multimarker index of SI… Our findings suggest that exposure to SOGICE may be a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease among SGM young adults. Moreover, we observed a dose response with duration of SOGICE exposure and reduced cardiovascular health… Our results highlight the need for health care practitioners and policymakers to consider the harmful effects of SOGICE on physical health in their efforts to support SGM populations.”
