Transforming LGBTQ+ Health

Lesbian, Bisexual Women Have Worse Heart Health Compared to Heterosexual Counterparts

A recent study found that after adjustment for confounders, such as level of education, lesbian or bisexual women had lower cardiovascular health scores and hence worse heart health than heterosexual women.

Jessica Halem, senior director of Eidos, the LGBTQ+ Health Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania, provided context for this study noting that it was likely multiple barriers to healthcare access and stressors experienced by lesbian and bisexual women contributed to the disparity shown in the study.

“Unfortunately, the same barriers and stressors that result in our worse cardiovascular health also lead to higher rates of cancer too. As the study finds, lesbian and bisexual women have higher rates of smoking and living in poverty combined with frequent negative healthcare experiences.”

View this article on Medical News Today

image: Anna Shvets/pexels

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