Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Introduction Research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals' health and health practices has primarily consisted of convenience studies focused on HIV/AIDS, substance use, or mental illness. We examined health-related disparities among Oregon LGB men and women compared with heterosexual men and women using data from a population-based survey.
Methods Data from the 2005 through 2008 Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to examine associations between sexual orientation and chronic conditions, health limitations, health risk factors, and protective health practices.
Results Compared with heterosexual women, lesbian and bisexual women were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes, be obese, binge drink, and have chronic conditions, and less likely to engage in protective health practices. Compared with heterosexual men, gay men were significantly less likely to be obese, more likely to binge drink, and more likely to engage in protective health practices. Compared with heterosexual men, bisexual men were significantly more likely to have a physical disability, smoke cigarettes, binge drink, and more likely to get an HIV test.
Conclusions Health disparities among Oregon LGB individuals were most prominent among lesbian and bisexual women. Gay men had the most protective health practices, but they were more likely than heterosexual men to engage in risky behaviors that lead to chronic diseases later in life. Targeted public health interventions should be provided in environments that avoid stigmatizing and discriminating against LGB individuals where they live, work, learn, and socialize.
Introduction
Research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals' health and health practices has primarily consisted of convenience studies focused on HIV/AIDS, substance use, or mental illness. Recently, population-based studies have assessed chronic conditions, health risk factors, disabilities, physical or mental health limitations, and health practices of the adult LGB population. These and other studies reported that lesbian or bisexual women had higher odds of having arthritis, asthma, and diabetes, and were more likely to smoke cigarettes, abuse alcohol, and be overweight compared with heterosexual women. Lesbian and bisexual women were also more likely than heterosexual women to report poor health and were less likely to receive preventive screenings. Compared with heterosexual men, gay or bisexual men had higher odds of having asthma, were more likely to smoke cigarettes, and were more likely to abuse alcohol.
To understand the health of LGB adults in Oregon, the Oregon Public Health Division added a consistent sexual orientation question to the state's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey in 2005. Addition of sexual orientation questions to state and federal surveys is a key recommendation of the 2011 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on the health of LGB and transgender people and is an objective of Healthy People 2020. The IOM acknowledges that there is incomplete information about the health of LGB people, a group that is becoming increasingly visible and more socially acknowledged. This study addresses gaps in the literature by assessing additional chronic disease risk factors and preventive health behaviors and by controlling for additional demographic factors that are known to shape LGB health outcomes.