Abstract Book of the 4th International Conference on LGBT Studies
Year: 2025
[PDF]
Examining Differences in Self-Reported Cardiovascular Disease History among LGBTQ+ Subgroups in the United States
Jane Murphy
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this analysis was to examine how differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) history vary along sexual orientation and gender identity. Even though research has found there is often an intersection between having a diverse sexual orientation (DSO) and transgender identity, these groups are typically treated as either uniform (the LGBTQ+ community as a whole) or as two separate groups (either diverse sexual orientation or transgender identity), particularly regarding CVD history. This secondary data analysis used valid responses from adults who completed the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) and CVD history (heart attack, coronary artery disease, and stroke) modules from the 2018-2023 cycles of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). CVD histories were first examined using Chi-Square analyses by SOGI subgroups (gender identity by sexual orientation). Binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between CVD histories and SOGI subgroups. 1,314,710 respondents from the 2018-2023 BRFSS were examined. Chi-square analyses found significant differences in reported CVD history among the four-level SOGI categories. Controlling for relevant demographic variables, Cisgender Straight Adults, Transgender Straight Adults, and Cisgender Adults with DSO all had significantly lower odds of reporting history of any CVD when compared to Transgender Adults with DSO. These results highlight significant differences in reported CVD history among SOGI subgroups in the United States. Further research is needed to better understand the cause(s) of these health disparities so that effective interventions can be implemented to reduce negative CVD outcomes among these populations.
Keywords: CVD, heart, SGM, stroke, transgender