Patterns of cigarette smoking and alcohol use among lesbians and bisexual women enrolled in a large health maintenance organization.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol use among lesbians and bisexual women with that among heterosexual women.


METHODS
Logistic regression models were created with data from an extensive member health survey at a large health maintenance organization. Sexual orientation was the primary predictor, and alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking were outcomes.


RESULTS
Lesbians and bisexual women younger than 50 years were more likely than heterosexual women to smoke cigarettes and drink heavily. Lesbians and bisexual women aged 20 to 34 reported higher weekly alcohol consumption and less abstinence compared with heterosexual women and older lesbians and bisexual women.


CONCLUSIONS
Lesbians and bisexual women aged 20 to 34 years are at risk for alcohol use and cigarette smoking.
Gruskin
E P
EP
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, 3505 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611, USA. lpg@dor.kaiser.org
Hart
S
S
Gordon
N
N
Ackerson
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires