Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults are more likely to suffer from several chronic health conditions that place them at increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), according to data released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among the conditions linked to risk for more severe illness more common among LGBT adults are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The agency recommends that more data on sexual orientation and gender identity be included with Covid-19 surveillance to improve treatment in LGBT patients.

“The higher prevalence of conditions like heart disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and diabetes in those who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual compared to those who identify as heterosexual is not surprising when considering the impacts of discrimination and stigma [on this population],” Dr. Kacie Kidd, who has researched LGBT health disparities.

Nearly 20 percent of those the CDC classifies as “sexual minorities” age 18 and older have a history of asthma, compared to 14 percent of people who identify as “heterosexual,” the data showed.

In addition, just over 10 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while 7 percent of heterosexual adults have the breathing disorder.

Rates of heart disease – 8 percent versus 7 percent – as well as diabetes – 13 percent versus 12 percent – and high blood pressure  – 36 percent versus 34 percent – are also slightly higher among LGBT adults in the United States compared to their heterosexual peers, according to the agency.

Discrimination and stigma are associated with disparities “that are likely to worsen the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for this population, including higher rates of unstable housing and unemployment,” said Kidd, a specialist in adolescent and young adult medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She was not part of the CDC analysis.

‘SEXUAL MINORITY FINDINGS’

“Sexual minority” adults who also are members of racial and ethnic minority groups “disproportionately affected by the pandemic” have higher rates of several health conditions than their heterosexual peers, according to the CDC.

For example, 45 percent of black LGBT adults in the United States have high blood pressure, compared to 35 percent of white LGBT and 32 percent of white heterosexual adults, the CDC data showed.

And, 19 percent of black LGBT adults nationally have diabetes, compared to 11 percent of white LGBT and 10 percent of white heterosexual adults, the agency said.

LGBT adults of all racial and ethnic backgrounds also have higher rates of cancer, obesity and kidney disease, compared to their heterosexual peers, according to the CDC – which may also place them at higher risk for severe Covid-19.

Smokers also are believed to be at higher risk for serious illness from the virus, and 22 percent of LGBT adults in the United States smoke, compared to 15 percent of heterosexual adults, the data showed.

Based on these findings, the CDC is urging for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity data in Covid-19 surveillance in order to “improve knowledge about disparities in infections and adverse outcomes.”

Having this information would enable “more equitable responses to the pandemic,” the agency said, and Kidd agreed.

“Including validated questions about sexual orientation and gender identity in national surveys as proposed by these authors is critically important to understand the prevalence of the LGBTQ population and the disparities they face,” she said.

“Doing so is the only way to know how to best allocate resources and equip researchers and health systems with the means to ultimately reduce and eliminate these disparities moving forward, something that is even more important during a compounding health crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic.”