Health risk pattern among lesbians and bisexual women increase rates of cancer and other chronic diseases

Health risk patterns among lesbians and bisexual women leave them at greater risk of cancer and other chronic diseases linked to smoking and obesity than heterosexual women, according to a new UCLA School of Public Health study.

The study, led by UCLA epidemiologist Susan D. Cochran and published in the April edition of the peer-reviewed American Journal of Public Health, showed that lesbian and bisexual women have higher rates of obesity, alcohol use and tobacco use, and lower rates of parity and birth control pill use than other women.

The study found that these women also were less likely to have health insurance coverage or to have had a recent pelvic examination or mammogram. Self-reported histories of breast cancer, however, did not differ from estimates for the general U.S. female population.

"A key, and unexpected, finding is that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to be current or former tobacco smokers than women in general," said Cochran, a UCLA School of Public Health professor. "The effects of cigarette smoking on health are broad and well-documented. Considered in conjunction with other risk factors, such as obesity and alcohol use, these finding raise new concerns about the health needs of lesbians and bisexual women.

"If public health truly is for everyone," Cochran said, "the results of this study demand the development of culturally competent educational campaigns and health care services to address the needs of this community."

Data were drawn from seven independent surveys conducted between 1987 and 1996 involving lesbian/bisexual health issues. The surveys assessed patterns of health screening, smoking and alcohol use history, pregnancy, birth control and parity, prevalence of obesity and breast cancer history.

In addition to Cochran, researchers involved in the study were Vickie M. Mays, Deborah Bowen, Suzann Gage, Deborah Bybee, Susan J. Roberts, Robert S. Goldstein, Ann Robison, Elizabeth J. Rankow and Dr. Jocelyn White.

Online Resources: The study is available online at http://home.stat.ucla.edu/~cochran/article.pdf and UCLA School of Public Health: http://www.ph.ucla.edu/