New Research Links Bisexual Women to Elevated Heart Disease Risk

The Journal of the American Heart Association recently published a study. It suggests bisexual women may have more risk of heart disease than heterosexual women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Exercise from 2007 to 2016. Researchers analyzed data from 12,180 individuals with an average age of 39, half female.

Details of the Study

Individuals were each given a CHV score from 0-100 (100 being the best) based on their dietary habits. It also relies from physical assessments.

🫀 Bisexual people face a heightened risk of heart disease compared to their straight peers, a study by @ColumbiaNursing shows.

⭕️ Bi women are twice as likely to be obese and have poor cardiovascular health than straight women, the study found. pic.twitter.com/DJX2KptKgs

— Openly 🏳️‍🌈 (@Openly) February 23, 2023

The scores were based on the measure of ideal heart health in US adults by the American Heart Association.

A score under 50 indicated “poor” cardiovascular health, 50-79 indicated “moderate,” and 80 or higher was “high,” per the AHA website.

While the study did not explore the reasons behind this elevated risk, the researchers speculate that discrimination and stigma may play a role.

Bisexual individuals may experience both biphobia and homophobia, which can lead to chronic stress and negative health outcomes.

The study excluded people with a history of heart disease and pregnant women. Research results  prove that bisexual females have approximately half the likelihood of receiving higher heart health scores than heterosexual females.

It is mainly due to factors such as nicotine exposure and higher body mass index. Researchers also identified other potential risk factors.

Some of which include increased stress, decreased sleep, and a higher likelihood of diabetes among bisexual women.

It is highlighted in a press release from the Columbia School of Nursing. In addition, the study found bisexual men to be twice more likely to suffer high blood pressure than heterosexual men.

Results of a Similar Study

The study “Differences in Ideal Cardiovascular Health Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults” was published in JAMA Cardiology and led by an assistant professor at the Columbia School of Nursing, Dr. Billy Caceres.

Bisexual women may face a higher heart disease risk, new research suggests https://t.co/oPG8wc1fge pic.twitter.com/Rnh7OF2Cf4

— New York Post (@nypost) March 1, 2023

The research involved a team of scholars from institutions such as Columbia University, the University of California in San Francisco, and the Boston University School of Medicine.

The study’s authors acknowledged the need for further research. The reason is to identify additional factors that may impact the cardiovascular health of bisexual women.

Dr. Dung Trinh, serves as the chief medical officer of Irvine Clinical Research. He is also a physician at Memorial Care Medical Group in California. Though, he was not part of the research team.

However, he suggested that healthcare providers should consider the distinct health requirements of various sexual orientations when treating cardiac conditions.

“Cardiac healthcare providers should ask open-ended questions about gender identity and sexual orientation during the patient’s medical history intake to help identify any risk factors,” Dr. Trinh told Fox News Digital via email.

He also said that the potential impact of “discrimination and stigma on the patient’s mental health and overall well-being” may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease among bisexual women.

Other Contributing Factors

He continued, “Doctors should screen for mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, that may impact cardiovascular health, especially among LGBTQ+ individuals who face higher rates of mental illness than the general population.”

“Many lifestyle factors impacting cardiovascular health – such as smoking status, alcohol consumption, dietary choices, and exercise habits – vary based on a person’s cultural background or sexual orientation.”

He also stressed that “It’s important to educate patients on how their sexual orientation may impact their cardiac disease risk factors.

Dr. Trinh added, “Also, to stress prevention strategies such as healthy eating habits, regular exercise, stress management techniques, and medication adherence if necessary.”

He finally recommended that physicians provide appropriate referrals for community resources or support groups as needed.

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