Sexual Minority Health Disparities in Adult Men and Women in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2010.
OBJECTIVE
We used nationally representative data to investigate health disparities associated with sexual minority status among adults in the United States.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 11,114 adults who participated in the 2001 to 2010 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using multiple logistic regressions, we examined the prevalence of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, mental health problems, cigarette smoking, and alcohol and illicit drug use in sexual minorities and heterosexual adults.


RESULTS
After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, sexual minority men had greater odds of mental health problems, testing positive for HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2 and self-reported gonorrhea and chlamydia. Sexual minority women had greater odds of mental health problems, testing positive for hepatitis C, smoking, heavy drinking, and illicit drug use.


CONCLUSIONS
Numerous health disparities continue to face sexual minority men and women in the United States. Notably, health disparities persisted beyond the role of sociodemographic factors, including access to insurance and primary care, suggesting that further research is warranted to identify the determinants of health inequity for sexual minorities.
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Don
D
Operario
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Kristi E
KE
Gamarel
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Benjamin M
BM
Grin
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Ji Hyun
JH
Lee
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Christopher W
CW
Kahler
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Brandon D L
BD
Marshall
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Jacob J
JJ
van den Berg
Don Operario, Benjamin M. Grin, Ji Hyun Lee, Christopher W. Kahler, and Brandon D. L. Marshall are with the Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. Kristi E. Gamarel is with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Jacob J. van den Berg is with the Miriam Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. Nickolas D. Zaller is with the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Nickolas D
ND
Zaller
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054525:Minority Health; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D019529:Sexuality; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology