Newswise — A recent study conducted in France examined the cardiovascular health scores of individuals based on their sexual orientation. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, revealed that lesbian and bisexual women had lower cardiovascular health scores compared to heterosexual women. On the other hand, gay and bisexual men generally had better cardiovascular health scores than heterosexual men. However, the study also found that rural-residing sexual minority men had worse cardiovascular health compared to heterosexual men. These findings shed light on the potential disparities in cardiovascular health among different sexual orientations and emphasize the importance of addressing these health inequalities in various populations.
The study included 169,434 cardiovascular disease–free adults and assessed nicotine exposure, diet, physical activity, body mass index, sleep health, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids.
The corresponding author of the study, Omar Deraz, emphasizes the importance of addressing preventive care barriers within sexual minority sub-groups and understanding the perspectives of these communities for effective cardiovascular disease prevention. Deraz suggests that improving cultural competency among healthcare providers and raising awareness can lead to better communication, monitoring, and referrals for cardiovascular health among sexual minority individuals. It is noted that structural biases, socioeconomic factors, and psychosocial disadvantages have a disproportionate impact on the cardiovascular health of LGBT+ individuals and are significant determinants of their health outcomes. By recognizing and addressing these factors, steps can be taken to promote better cardiovascular health equity and reduce disparities among sexual minority populations.
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