New research reveals that transgender adults living in rural Appalachia face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to cisgender individuals. A study conducted in Huntington, West Virginia, and neighboring areas of rural Ohio and Kentucky between November 2022 and February 2023 examined 89 transgender adults and 69 randomly selected cisgender individuals, shedding light on disparities in cardiovascular health.
The study discovered that transgender participants were more likely to possess cardiovascular disease risk factors, including tobacco use, obesity, and high blood pressure. Trans participants were over six times more likely to use tobacco and nearly four times more likely to have prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Transgender men were 13 times more likely to experience obesity than transgender women, and they were almost 3.5 times more likely to have high cholesterol than their transgender female counterparts.
Lead author Ebubechukwu Ezeh emphasized the urgent need for tailored interventions and awareness campaigns targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals. He noted that West Virginia, entirely within the Appalachian region, has one of the highest per capita rates of transgender youth in the United States, making it crucial to study cardiovascular disease risks in this population.
Additionally, the research highlighted that transgender individuals who received gender-affirming surgery or hormone treatments had different health risk profiles, such as increased alcohol and tobacco use and a greater need for cholesterol-lowering medications. However, the study’s sample size limits the generalization of these findings.
Ezeh emphasized the importance of identifying and addressing the specific needs of transgender individuals through targeted interventions. These findings provide a foundation for improving the overall health and well-being of transgender individuals and reducing their cardiovascular risk, particularly among a relatively young population.
Carl Streed Jr., an assistant professor of internal medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, stressed that these findings underscore the heightened cardiovascular risk faced by transgender people, as well as the increased risk among individuals in rural areas. He called for further research and initiatives to ensure equitable healthcare for all, especially those most vulnerable due to diversity gaps in care based on various factors, including gender identity and geography.
