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Inserm researchers reveal that lesbian and bisexual women have a higher risk of suffering from cardiovascular pathologies than heterosexual women. This increased risk would be linked to several factors such as higher stress, a higher rate of smoking and alcohol consumption among these sexual minorities.
A study of approximately 170,000 men and women
Three research teams are involved in this study: an Inserm team led by Dr Jean-Philippe Empana, a team of epidemiologists behind the Constances* research platform, and three American researchers who had already worked on the subject on American populations.
Study participants underwent a health check-up and answered a specific questionnaire about their sexual orientation. The study distinguished four groups: heterosexual, homosexual (gays and lesbians), bisexual and “not wishing to express themselves”. After analyzing the health reports of each participant, the researchers found that the cardiovascular health score (out of 100) of lesbian or bisexual women was significantly worse than that of heterosexuals.
On the other hand, the finding was not the same among gay men and bisexuals, who had a better cardiovascular health score than heterosexual men. In detail, the score (out of 100) of lesbian and bisexual women was one point lower than that of heterosexuals. The score of gay men was almost three points higher than that of heterosexual men. If these score differences may seem derisory at first sight, they are in reality alarming because “one point gained corresponds to a 12 to 14% reduction in the risk of occurrence of cardiovascular pathologies”, explains Dr. Empana in an interview with World.
More stressed women…
The authors of the study put forward several hypotheses to explain the poorer cardiovascular health of lesbians and bisexuals. First hypothesis, stress. Indeed, sexual minorities are more exposed to stress in their professional, family and social life. We know that stress increases cardiovascular risk. In addition, this stress can lead to behaviors that are harmful to health (alcohol consumption, smoking) and promote the appearance of mental disorders (anxiety, depression, etc.). But that’s not all.
All these elements have harmful effects on the body since they promote chronic inflammation and alterations in the nervous system. Over time, these parameters increase the risk of atherosclerosis, which results in the formation of fatty plaques on the arteries, a disorder which in turn promotes cardiovascular accidents, including myocardial infarction.
…and who have less access to medical care
Another factor that may explain these inequalities is reduced access to the health system among sexual minorities. In an article published on the website The ConversationJean-Philippe Empana and Omar Deraz (co-authors of the study) explain: “For example, work has shown in England that LGBTQ+ people, and especially lesbian women, have more difficulty accessing it. They report (unconscious) discrimination on the part of caregivers and a misunderstanding of their health issues.
Asked about the measures to be put in place to remedy this unequal situation, Jean-Philippe Empana calls for greater awareness among health professionals of the socio-economic precariousness and mental health issues of sexual minorities. “Offering them an optimal range of care and preventive services presupposes that the actors of the health system are sensitive to their problems of discrimination and access to care, to the biases that may arise in their practice, in order to establish a relationship of trust between health system actors and sexual minorities”.
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