Health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults: Results from a population-based study

K.I. Fredriksen-Goldsen, H.-J. Kim, S.E. Barkan, A. Muraco and C.P. Hoy-Ellis

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 10, 1802-1809

Abstract: Objectives. We investigated health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50 years and older. Methods. We analyzed data from the 2003-2010 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 96 992) on health outcomes, chronic conditions, access to care, behaviors, and screening by gender and sexual orientation with adjusted logistic regressions. Results. LGB older adults had higher risk of disability, poor mental health, smoking, and excessive drinking than did heterosexuals. Lesbians and bisexual women had higher risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and gay and bisexual men had higher risk of poor physical health and living alone than did heterosexuals. Lesbians reported a higher rate of excessive drinking than did bisexual women; bisexual men reported a higher rate of diabetes and a lower rate of being tested for HIV than did gay men. Conclusions. Tailored interventions are needed to address the health disparities and unique health needs of LGB older adults. Research across the life course is needed to better understand health disparities by sexual orientation and age, and to assess subgroup differences within these communities.

Keywords: article; bisexuality; chronic disease; confidence interval; female; health behavior; health care delivery; health disparity; health survey; human; lesbianism; male; male homosexuality; mass screening; middle aged; risk; statistical model; United States, Bisexuality; Chronic Disease; Confidence Intervals; Female; Health Behavior; Health Services Accessibility; Health Status Disparities; Health Surveys; Homosexuality, Female; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Washington (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301110_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301110

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