Older LGBT Adults Face Chronic Illness, Other Health Challenges

[Behind the Aegis]

LGBT adults are more likely than their non-LGBT peers to report certain health-related challenges and negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a July report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

The report, which was based on findings from a nationally representative survey of adults ages 18 to 64, helps illuminate some of the long-standing health disparities experienced by people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or “something else” other than straight.

"There is a lack of data in terms of health data for LGBT people,” says report author Lindsey Dawson, associate director of HIV policy at KFF, who notes that this poses a challenge for policymakers and researchers seeking to address the community's health needs. “[In] doing our report, we've certainly sought to add to the knowledge base.”

Health conditions and provider experiences
Among the disparities highlighted in the findings is health status: LGBT respondents were more likely to report being in fair or poor health than their non-LGBT counterparts, and a higher share of LGBT people reported having an ongoing health condition that requires regular monitoring, medical care or medication.

Among LGBT adults 45 to 64, for example, more than three-quarters (77 percent) said they have a chronic health condition, compared to 54 percent of non-LGBT people in that age group.

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