Cardiovascular health should be routinely assessed and addressed in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) adults, the American Heart Association (AHA) concludes in a new scientific statement.
“Among the most important takeaways from this scientific statement is the need for healthcare providers in clinical settings to routinely assess sexual orientation and gender identity,” Billy A. Caceres, PhD, RN, chair of the statement writing group, told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.

Billy A. Caceres, PhD, RN
“This will help healthcare providers engage LGBTQ patients in discussions about their heart health that account for the unique experiences of this population,” said Caceres, assistant professor, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York.
The statement was published online October 8 in Circulation.
“Invisible” Population
There are roughly 11 million LGBTQ adults in the United States, yet they are often “invisible in healthcare settings and cardiovascular research,” Caceres noted. The AHA scientific statement