Abstract HUP6: Ideal Cardiovascular Health and the Intersectionality of Race/Ethnicity and Sexual Identity

Abstract

Introduction: Disparities exist in cardiovascular health (CVH) by sexual identity and race/ethnicity separately, however an understanding of the intersectional effect of these identities has been limited. Objective: To evaluate differences in ideal CVH, as captured in the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 framework, across race/ethnicity and sexual identity. Methods: This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2007-2016). Non-institutionalized adults (18-59 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease/stroke and who were not pregnant at the time of the interview were included. Self-reported race/ethnicity was categorized as non-Hispanic Black (hereafter Black), Hispanic, non-Hispanic White (hereafter White), and another race. Self-reported sexual identity was categorized as straight and sexual minority (SM), which encompassed those who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or something else. The primary outcome was total CVH score (range 0 -100), which is the unweighted average of 8 CVH components, assessed using questionnaire, dietary, and physical examination data. Sex-stratified regression models were developed for the overall CVH score and CVH components, adjusting for age and study year. Results: The sample included 12,256 adults (mean age 39.6 years [SD 11.7]). While Black (ß= -4.9, 95% CI -7.7, -2.0), Hispanic (ß= -4.9, 95% CI -9.6, -0.2), and White (ß = -5.9, 95% CI -8.8, -3.0) SM female adults had lower total CVH scores compared to their straight counterparts, female participants of another race and SM male adults of any race/ethnicity did not. Black SM female individuals had less favorable nicotine (ß= -20.9, 95% CI -32.3, -9.4) and blood pressure (ß= -7.2, 95% CI -13.8, -0.6) scores compared with Black straight females. Hispanic SM female individuals had less favorable body mass index scores (ß= -15.6, 95% CI -28.0, -3.2) compared with Hispanic straight females. Conclusions: CVH differed across racial/ethnic identities in SM females but not SM males. Longitudinal studies are needed to identify mechanisms driving CVH disparities in Black and Hispanic SM females.