LGBTQ Adults Often Miss Out on Cholesterol Meds

By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Lesbian, homosexual and bisexual (LGB) adults are much less prone to take cholesterol-lowering statins to forestall coronary heart illness than heterosexual adults, although they’ve the next coronary heart illness danger, in line with a brand new examine.

Researchers performed an internet survey of greater than 1,500 Facebook customers, aged 40 and older, and located that just about one-third had been taking statins.

Of the 12% of respondents who recognized as LGB, lower than 21% had been taking statins for main prevention, in contrast with almost 44% of non-LGB adults.

Primary prevention is when an individual takes statins to forestall coronary heart illness.

There had been no important variations between LGB and non-LGB adults in using statins for secondary prevention (using statins by somebody with coronary heart illness), in line with the examine printed Dec. 2 within the Journal of the American Heart Association.

“There could be many reasons for the difference we observed,” mentioned examine writer Yi Guo, assistant professor of well being outcomes and biomedical informatics on the University of Florida College of Medicine.

“LGB individuals may not go to the doctor as often, which leads to lower chances of being recommended statins for cardiovascular disease prevention,” he mentioned in a journal information launch.

It’s additionally doable that LGB adults could also be much less conscious of their elevated coronary heart illness danger — partially as a result of they’re extra prone to smoke, drink alcohol, use medication and be overweight — and the protecting impact of statins.

“We had been shocked to see such a giant distinction in main prevention, with lower than half of the speed because the non-LGB inhabitants. This highlights the pressing want for tailor-made interventions and campaigns that promote the attention of statin use and cardiovascular well being within the LGB inhabitants,’ Guo mentioned.

“Health care providers should address their own biases and understand the complexities of LGB patients, making sure to provide guideline-directed recommendations in a culturally competent way,” mentioned examine co-author Jiang Bian, affiliate professor of well being outcomes and biomedical informatics on the UF College of Medicine.

“What we have found is very much in line with the American Heart Association’s statement for LBGTQ adults,” Bian mentioned within the launch.

“First, more research is needed to better understand the cardiovascular disease health risks and outcomes in the LGB population. Second, educational programs are needed to educate health professionals on these unique health risks and outcomes in the LGB population and the appropriate way to communicate with LGB people,” he mentioned.

More data

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extra on statins.