Chronic Health Conditions, Disability, and Physical and Cognitive Limitations Among LGBTQ+ Cancer Survivors.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors are at high risk for chronic health conditions and physical and cognitive limitations. However, few studies have explored these outcomes among LGBTQ+ survivors. METHODS: We used pooled, weighted Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 23 states that completed two specific modules from 2020-2022. We calculated age-adjusted prevalence for heart disease, asthma, COPD, depressive disorders, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, stroke, diabetes, hearing disability, vision disability, cognitive limitations, and difficulty walking, dressing, and running errands in LGBTQ+, lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB), transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC), and non-LGBTQ+ cancer survivors. Four multivariable logistic regression models controlling for different factors were run for each outcome. RESULTS: Of 40,990 cancer survivors, 1,715 were LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ survivors had significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of all outcomes. The prevalence of all outcomes was highest among TGNC survivors except for depressive disorders and cognitive limitations. LGBTQ+ survivors had higher odds of reporting asthma (aOR 1.5, 95%CI1.2-1.9), depressive disorders (aOR 1.9, 95%CI1.6-2.4), kidney disease (aOR 1.5, 95%CI1.1-2.1), stroke (aOR 1.7, 95%CI1.3-2.3), diabetes (aOR 1.3, 95%CI1.0-1.6), vision disability (aOR 1.6, 95%CI1.2-2.2), cognitive limitations (aOR 2.3, 95%CI1.8-2.9), difficulty walking (aOR 1.7, 95%CI1.3-2.0), dressing (aOR 2.0, 95%CI1.5-2.7), and running errands (aOR 1.6, 95%CI1.3-2.1). In TGNC models, TGNC cancer survivors had increased odds of most outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: LGBTQ+ cancer survivors have an elevated burden of all chronic health conditions, disabilities, and limitations assessed. TGNC cancer survivors experience even higher burden of the same outcomes. IMPACT Findings highlight substantial disparities regarding the health of LGBTQ+ cancer survivors.