Abstract 9744: Cardiovascular Stroke Nursing Best Abstract Award : Investigating Sexual Identity Disparities in Hypertension and Hypertension Treatment Among Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests that sexual minority (e.g., gay/lesbian, bisexual) adults are at increased risk for hypertension. However, sexual identity disparities in the use of anti-hypertensive medications among adults with hypertension have not been examined. We sought to investigate sexual identity differences in diagnosis of hypertension and use of anti-hypertensive medication among adults in the United States. Hypothesis: Sexual minority adults will have higher odds of hypertension and use of anti-hypertensive medication than heterosexual adults. Methods: We analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2015-2019) to examine sexual identity differences in diagnosis of hypertension and use of anti-hypertensive medication. We ran sex-stratified logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratios of diagnosis of hypertension and use of anti-hypertensive medication among sexual minority and heterosexual adults (reference group). Models were adjusted for demographics, insurance, body mass index, and smoking status. Results: The sample included 424,084 participants; 95.8% were heterosexual, 1.8% were gay or lesbian, and 2.3% were bisexual. Participants had a mean age of 49.6 (±16.9) years. Compared to heterosexual participants of the same sex, gay men (AOR 1.24, 95% CI = 1.08-1.42) and bisexual women (AOR 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02-1.35) were more likely to report having been diagnosed with hypertension. Among men diagnosed with hypertension those who identified as gay were more likely than heterosexual men to report current use of anti-hypertensive medication (AOR 1.44, 95% CI = 1.13-1.83). Among women with diagnosed hypertension, bisexual women had lower odds of current use of anti-hypertensive medication (AOR 0.70, 95% CI = 0.55-0.89). No differences were identified when lesbian women and bisexual men were compared to their heterosexual peers of the same sex. Conclusion: Gay men and bisexual women had a higher prevalence of hypertension than their heterosexual counterparts of the same sex. Bisexual women may also be at higher risk for under-treated hypertension than heterosexual women. Future research should examine factors that contribute to hypertension disparities among gay men and bisexual women.