%0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2013 %T Health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults: results from a population-based study. %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Barkan, Susan E %A Muraco, Anna %A Hoy-Ellis, Charles P %K Bisexuality %K Chronic Disease %K Confidence Intervals %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Status Disparities %K Health Surveys %K Homosexuality, Female %K Homosexuality, Male %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Mass Screening %K Middle Aged %K Odds Ratio %K Washington %X

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.

%B Am J Public Health %V 103 %P 1802-9 %8 2013 Oct %G eng %N 10 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301110 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2010 %T Disparities in health-related quality of life: a comparison of lesbians and bisexual women. %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Barkan, Susan E %A Balsam, Kimberly F %A Mincer, Shawn L %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Bisexuality %K Exercise %K Female %K Health Status Disparities %K Homosexuality, Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Poverty %K Quality of Life %K Risk Factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Urban Population %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) with sexual orientation among lesbians and bisexual women and compared the predictors of HRQOL between the 2 groups.

METHODS: We used multivariate logistic regression to analyze Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System population-based data (2003 to 2007) in a sample of 1496 lesbians and bisexual women and examined determinants of HRQOL among lesbians and bisexual women.

RESULTS: For lesbians and bisexual women, frequent mental distress and poor general health were associated with poverty and lack of exercise; poor general health was associated with obesity and mental distress. Bisexual women showed a higher likelihood of frequent mental distress and poor general health than did lesbians. The odds of mental distress were higher for bisexual women living in urban areas as compared with nonurban areas. Lesbians had an elevated risk of poor general health and mental distress during midlife.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the standard practice of collapsing sexual minority women into a single group, lesbian and bisexual women in this study emerge as distinct groups that merit specific attention. Bisexual women are at elevated risk for poor HRQOL.

%B Am J Public Health %V 100 %P 2255-61 %8 2010 Nov %G eng %N 11 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2009.177329