Association of LGBTQ+ Affirming Care With Chronic Disease and Preventive Care Outcomes

Introduction Experiences of discrimination and bias in health care contribute to health disparities for LGBTQ+ and other minority populations. To avoid discrimination, many LGBTQ+ people go to great lengths to find healthcare providers who they trust and are knowledgeable about their health needs. This study examines whether access to an LGBTQ+ affirming provider may improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+ populations across a range of preventive health and chronic disease management outcomes. Methods This cross-sectional study uses Poisson regression models to examine original survey data (n=1,120) from Wave 1 of the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study (VUSNAPS), a panel study examining older (50□76 years) LGBTQ+ adults’ health and aging, collected between April 2020 and September 2021. Results Overall, access to an LGBTQ+ affirming provider is associated with greater uptake of preventive health screenings and improved management of mental health conditions among older LGBTQ+ adults. Compared to participants reporting a usual source of care that is not affirming, participants with an LGBTQ+ affirming provider are more likely to have ever and recently received several types of preventive care, including past year provider visit, flu shot, colorectal cancer screening, and HIV test. Access to an LGBTQ+ affirming provider is also associated with better management of mental health conditions. Conclusions Inclusive care is essential for reducing health disparities among LGBTQ+ populations. Health systems can reduce disparities by expanding education opportunities for providers regarding LGBTQ+ medicine, adopting nondiscrimination policies for LGBTQ+ patients and employees, and ensuring LGBTQ+ care is included in health insurance coverage.