title: Sexual orientation disparities in cardiovascular biomarkers among young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emerging evidence from general population studies suggests that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults are more likely to experience adverse cardiovascular outcomes relative to heterosexuals. No studies have examined whether sexual orientation disparities exist in biomarkers of early cardiovascular disease risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether sexual orientation disparities in biomarkers of early cardiovascular risk are present among young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data come from Wave IV (2008-2009) of the National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent Health (N=12,451), a prospective nationally representative study of U.S. adolescents followed into young adulthood (mean age=28.9 years). A total of 520 respondents identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Biomarkers included C-reactive protein, glycosylated hemoglobin, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate. Analyses were conducted in 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In gender-stratified models adjusted for demographics (age, race/ethnicity); SES (income, education); health behaviors (smoking, regular physical activity, alcohol consumption); and BMI, gay and bisexual men had significant elevations in C-reactive protein, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate, compared to heterosexual men. Despite having more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and higher BMI, lesbians and bisexual women had lower levels of C-reactive protein than heterosexual women in fully adjusted models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence was found for sexual orientation disparities in biomarkers of cardiovascular risk among young adults, particularly in gay and bisexual men. These findings, if confirmed in other studies, suggest that disruptions in core physiologic processes that ultimately confer risk for cardiovascular disease may occur early in the life course for sexual-minority men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. mlh2101@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hatzenbuehler
authors.forename: Katie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Slopen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001727:Bisexuality; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D015438:Health Behavior; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human