DISPARITIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER SEXUAL MINORITY CANCER SURVIVORS
2024

Health Outcomes in Sexual Minority Cancer Survivors

Sample size: 25545 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Maria Brown, Jane McElroy

Primary Institution: Syracuse University

Hypothesis

Do sexual minority cancer survivors experience worse health outcomes compared to non-sexual minority cancer survivors?

Conclusion

Sexual minority cancer survivors report more chronic conditions and mental health issues than their non-sexual minority counterparts.

Supporting Evidence

  • Sexual minority males aged 45-64 reported an average of 1.67 chronic conditions compared to 1.03 for non-sexual minority males.
  • Sexual minority females aged 45-64 reported 52.9% experiencing depressive disorders compared to 36.5% of non-sexual minority females.
  • Sexual minority cancer survivors had greater odds of poor health and multiple chronic conditions.

Takeaway

This study found that LGBTQ+ cancer survivors tend to have more health problems than other cancer survivors.

Methodology

The study analyzed public-use data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System using a propensity-score matched sample.

Limitations

The study is cross-sectional and exploratory, which limits causal inferences.

Participant Demographics

Middle-aged and older sexual minority cancer survivors.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.2485

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