Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Health & Wellness

Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease – study

Lesbian, gay and bisexual adults have a “disproportionately high risk” of heart disease and other cardiac problems when compared to heterosexuals.

LGBT health issue in focus.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual adults have a “disproportionately high risk” of heart disease and other cardiac problems when compared to heterosexuals.

For this study, researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami, Florida in the US focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found that these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar.

The research team used survey data from 2,445 adults, as well as interviews and medical exams of a representative cross section of the study population to track heart health. They found that only one in 20 (5%) of the participants identified as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. Participants were not asked to identify whether they were transgender, so the potential health inequality could be even greater.

While family history of heart disease and age are uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease, the other areas where heart health was measured included blood pressure management, cholesterol, physical activity, weight and diet.

The researchers found that across all seven health scores, those who identified as lesbian, gay and bisexual were 36% less likely to be in the healthy range.

The results “point towards a disproportionately higher risk for cardiovascular disease among sexual-minority populations,” Dr. Anshul Saxena, a biostatistician led the research, was quoted as saying in Independent.co.uk.

Following the presentation of the research at a meeting of the American Heart Association, the call is, therefore, for doctors to do more to tackle health inequality in “sexual minority populations”.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Like Us On Facebook

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

NEWSMAKERS

Female participants showed an even stronger preference for plumper lips when viewing images of female faces, while male participants preferred female faces with unaltered...

NEWSMAKERS

"There are issue that are unique to lesbian women," said MJ Ceñidoza, program manager at Bahaghari Center. "And only they can, and should speak...

NEWSMAKERS

In the early part of April 2025, LGBTQIA+ students from FCPC met with officers of Bahaghari to "share their harrowing stories of discrimination and...

From the Editor

For the 2025 elections, former VP Leni Robredo endorsed Manny Pacquiao for senator. We do not have to vote for Pacquiao just because Leni...

Advertisement