Gonzales G, et al. - Researchers compared cancer diagnoses by age, gender, and sexual orientation, using data on 129,431 heterosexual adults and 3,357 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in the 2013–2016 National Health Interview Survey. Findings suggested that a greater risk for cancer (or having a personal history of cancer) may be present in some sexual minorities vs heterosexuals. The unique health care needs in LGB adults, including their elevated cancer risks, should be addressed by health care providers and public health practitioners.

Methods

• Using the 2013–2016 National Health Interview Survey, researchers obtained data on 129,431 heterosexual adults and 3,357 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults.
• They used logistic regression models to compare the prevalence of cancer diagnoses by sexual orientation while controlling for demographics, socioeconomic status, and health profiles.
• Across five age categories, they compared the probability of a cancer diagnosis by sexual orientation via estimating average marginal effects using coefficients from fully adjusted models.

Results

• After controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the diagnosis of cancer was more likely to be made among gay men (odds ratio [OR] 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–2.18) vs heterosexual men, and among bisexual women (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.16–2.48), vs heterosexual women.
• Gay men aged 65 years and older vs heterosexual men of the same age were 6.0% points (p < 0.05) more likely to be diagnosed with cancer.
• Findings revealed that bisexual women aged 65 years and older vs women of the same age were 7.6% points (p < 0.05) more likely to be diagnosed with cancer.