IntroductionResearch on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals’ health and health practices has primarily consisted of convenience studies focused on HIV/AIDS, substance use, or mental illness. We examined health-related disparities among Oregon LGB men and women compared with heterosexual men and women using data from a population-based survey.MethodsData from the 2005 through 2008 Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to examine associations between sexual orientation and chronic conditions, health limitations, health risk factors, and protective health practices.ResultsCompared with heterosexual women, lesbian and bisexual women were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes, be obese, binge drink, and have chronic conditions, and less likely to engage in protective health practices. Compared with heterosexual men, gay men were significantly less likely to be obese, more likely to binge drink, and more likely to engage in protective health practices. Compared with heterosexual men, bisexual men were significantly more likely to have a physical disability, smoke cigarettes, binge drink, and more likely to get an HIV test.ConclusionsHealth disparities among Oregon LGB individuals were most prominent among lesbian and bisexual women. Gay men had the most protective health practices, but they were more likely than heterosexual men to engage in risky behaviors that lead to chronic diseases later in life. Targeted public health interventions should be provided in environments that avoid stigmatizing and discriminating against LGB individuals where they live, work, learn, and socialize.

Factors associated with breast density in older, post-menopausal women differ from traditional breast cancer risk factors and from factors associated with breast density in pre-menopausal and younger post-menopausal women.

Recent trends in Oregon indicated that diabetes is on the rise. Medicaid self-reported data estimated about 11 percent are affected by diabetes, which is twice the prevalence of the general population in Oregon. Little is known about the agreement between self-reported information and medical claims data in the Medicaid population. This study provides an opportunity to compare prevalence of diabetes when the estimates are computed from the two different data sources. A sample of 2,154 Medicaid adults in Oregon (18 to 64 years old) were identified in both the Medicaid claims and self-report survey. The result reported a strong agreement of diabetes definition between the Medicaid claim data and the self-reported survey.