Tobacco Use and Associated Health Conditions and Risk Factors in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Transsexual Populations of Puerto Rico, 2013-2015.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this research were to develop an epidemiological profile of tobacco use in the Puerto Rico lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual (LGBTT) populations and identify whether there are any statistically significant differences (in terms of health conditions and risk factors) between LGBTT smokers (LGBTT-S), LGBTT non-smokers (LGBTT-NS), general-populationnon-smokers (GP-NS), and general-population smokers (GP-S). METHODS: Using the Puerto Rico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database (2013-2015), we conducted a univariate analysis to obtain an epidemiological profile, and a bivariate analysis was performed to compare LGBTT-S, LGBTT-NS, GP-NS, and GP-S. Finally, to determine the odds ratios (ORs), an age-adjusted logistic regression model with a 95% level of reliability was used. RESULTS: During the period of 2013 through 2015, the Puerto Rico LGBTT population was reported to have a higher tobacco use prevalence than the general population had (21.6% vs. 10.8%). The LGBTT-S were more likely to have depression (OR: 2.63, p = 0.030) than the LGBTT-NS were. Likewise, LGBTT-S were more likely to suffer from COPD (OR: 4.81, p = 0.014), depression (OR: 3.27, p = 0.002), and heart attack (OR: 0.12, p = 0.038) than were GP-NS. Finally, LGBTT-S were more likely to suffer from COPD (OR: 5.07, p = 0.013) and heart attack (OR: 0.13, p = 0.046) than GP-S were. CONCLUSION: The results of this research demonstrate that tobacco use is one of the most critical public health issues affecting the LGBTT populations in Puerto Rico. For that reason, specific interventions and treatments directed to LGBTT populations are needed to help to reduce the impact of this addiction on the health of their members.

Disproportionate Tobacco Use in the Puerto Rico Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community of 18 Years and Over-A Descriptive Profile.

PURPOSE: Tobacco use is currently one of the most critical public health issues affecting sexual and gender minority individuals. The primary objective of this research was to provide the first population-based epidemiological profile of tobacco use in the LGBT community in Puerto Rico. The secondary objective was to identify differences between LGBT smokers (LGBT-S) versus LGBT nonsmokers (LGBT-NS). METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2011 Puerto Rico Behavioral Risk Surveillance System database through a cross-sectional study methodology. A univariate analysis was performed to obtain an epidemiological profile of the LGBT-S. Through a bivariate analysis, we compared LGBT-S with LGBT-NS to identify differences. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of tobacco use was found in the Puerto Rico LGBT community (20.8%) compared with the Puerto Rico general population (14.8%). The groups with higher prevalence were females (23.2%), bisexuals (23.9%), people aged 25-34 years (52.0%), people with some years in university or technical school (23.9%), people who reported being out of work for more than 1 year (45.5%), and people who reported an annual income of $50,000 or more (12.5%). LGBT-S were more likely to report a history of cancer, arthritis, kidney disease, overweight or obesity, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder than LGBT-NS. CONCLUSION: Health surveys should incorporate sexual and gender identity questions in order to learn more about the health status of the LGBT community, especially given the disproportionate use of tobacco. The data may be useful to implement health promotion strategies related to tobacco control in this community.