Sexual minority health disparities across 75 health conditions and diagnoses

Abstract Background This study offers the first examination of health disparities affecting sexual minority populations across a comprehensive range of treatment-derived diagnoses. Our findings can inform future tests of the etiological pathways of the disparities uncovered here and ultimately motivate equity-enhancing interventions. This study examines health disparities and differences affecting sexual minority populations across a comprehensive range of 75 diagnosis and conditions. Methods Data from a large population-based national health survey linked to information from Sweden's health care registries over a 17-year period was used. Respondents to the Swedish National Public Health Survey (2018, 2020, 2021), ages 16 to 84 years (n = 218,352), provided their sexual orientation, which was linked to registries of all specialized health care and prescribed medication use (2005-2021). We compared health conditions and diagnosis by sexual orientation (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual) and examined the occurrence of treatment for 75 major health outcome reflecting the most frequently occurring diagnosis and health conditions in the population that also contribute significantly to burden of disease. Results All sexual minority groups had a higher risk of mood (e.g., depression), neurotic (e.g., anxiety), and substance use diagnosis compared to same-gender heterosexual groups, respectively; all sexual minority groups except gay men were more likely to be diagnosed for autism and ADHD. Treatment for several other health conditions was more common in some sexual minority subpopulations (e.g., eczema among gay men; hypertension among bisexual men; and acute upper respiratory infections among lesbian women). Conclusions This study offers a rare examination of sexual orientation differences across a comprehensive range of diagnosis and conditions. Future research can identify the underlying etiological pathways and population-level approaches to advance health equity.