The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Associated Risk Factors among Sexual and Gender Minorities in Texas: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2015, 2017, and 2019

Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM’s), commonly referred to as the LGBTQ+ community, have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease than their cisgender heterosexual peers in the United States. In addition, there is mounting evidence that suggests SGM adults have an increased exposure to cardiovascular disease risk factors throughout their lifespan, and these exposures are further exacerbated by negative experiences associated with minority stressors. Texas is home to the second-largest SGM population, however due to a lack of state-level data collection on sexual orientation or gender identity, very little is known about the well-being of this population. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors between SGM’s and non-SGM (or cisgender, heterosexual) persons in Texas by investigating cross-sectional data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Results showed that SGM Texans reported had similar rates of self-reported cardiovascular disease compared to non-SGMS. However, adult respondents who identified as an SGM, who were older, racial and ethnic minorities, current smokers, had more than one healthcare provider and were unable to afford healthcare in Texas were more likely to self-report having a cardiovascular complication.

Name thesis:degree_name

Population Health Sciences (Doctoral)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Population Health Sciences

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Rodriguez, Robert Anthony 1989-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John D. Prochaska

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Xiaoying Yu
• Kyriakos S. Markides
• Jason Flatt
• Adrian Juarez

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2152.3/12489

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/12489