Laws that prohibit sexual orientation-related discrimination may play an important role in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among some LGBTQIA+ subgroups.
This is according to a study – “Examining the Influence of Sexual Orientation-Related Nondiscrimination Laws on 30-Year Cardiovascular Disease Risk” by Yashika Sharma, Morgan Philbin, Bethany Everett, et al – that appeared in LGBT Health.
Here, the researchers wanted to expand existing evidence on structural determinants of cardiovascular health disparities particularly among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults by examining sexual orientation differences in the impact of sexual orientation-related nondiscrimination laws on 30-year CVD risk.
The researchers analyzed data from Waves III (2001–2002), IV (2008–2009), and V (2016–2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. In total, there were 3,768 participants (mean age [standard deviation] = 28.7 [±1.72] years) of whom approximately 77% were White, 11% Hispanic, and 51% female.
Among the key findings were:
- Compared with exclusively heterosexual participants, an increase in nondiscrimination laws was associated with lower CVD risk among mostly heterosexual women (B = −5.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −8.50 to −1.59) and gay men (B = −10.22, 95% CI = −19.05 to −1.39).
- There were no significant differences for other LGB subgroups when compared with exclusively heterosexual adults.
According to the researchers, there is a link between having pro-LGBTQIA+ policies with better cardiovascular health of LGB people.
“Increasing laws that prohibit sexual orientation-related discrimination may play an important role in reducing CVD risk among some LGB subgroups,” the researchers emphasized.
For the researchers, these findings should “inform structural-level interventions to reduce CVD risk among LGB adults.”
