Assessing and Addressing Cardiovascular Health in People Who Are Transgender and Gender Diverse: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association

Citation

Streed, Carl G., Jr.; Beach, Lauren B.; Caceres, Billy A.; Dowshen, Nadia L.; Moreau, Kerrie L.; Mukherjee, Monica; Poteat, Tonia; Radix, Asa; Reisner, Sari L.; & Singh, Vineeta (2021). Assessing and Addressing Cardiovascular Health in People Who Are Transgender and Gender Diverse: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 144(6), e136-48. PMCID: PMC8638087

Abstract

There is growing evidence that people who are transgender and gender diverse (TGD) are impacted by disparities across a variety of cardiovascular risk factors compared with their peers who are cisgender. Prior literature has characterized disparities in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as a result of a higher prevalence of health risk behaviors. Mounting research has revealed that cardiovascular risk factors at the individual level likely do not fully account for increased risk in cardiovascular health disparities among people who are TGD. Excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is hypothesized to be driven in part by psychosocial stressors across the lifespan at multiple levels, including structural violence (eg, discrimination, affordable housing, access to health care). This American Heart Association scientific statement reviews the existing literature on the cardiovascular health of people who are TGD. When applicable, the effects of gender-affirming hormone use on individual cardiovascular risk factors are also reviewed. Informed by a conceptual model building on minority stress theory, this statement identifies research gaps and provides suggestions for improving cardiovascular research and clinical care for people who are TGD, including the role of resilience-promoting factors. Advancing the cardiovascular health of people who are TGD requires a multifaceted approach that integrates best practices into research, health promotion, and cardiovascular care for this understudied population.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001003

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2021

Journal Title

Circulation

Series Title

Circulation. 2021 Aug 10;144(6):e150. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001009. Epub 2021 Aug 9. PMID: 34370548

Author(s)

Streed, Carl G., Jr.
Beach, Lauren B.
Caceres, Billy A.
Dowshen, Nadia L.
Moreau, Kerrie L.
Mukherjee, Monica
Poteat, Tonia
Radix, Asa
Reisner, Sari L.
Singh, Vineeta

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC8638087

Sex/Gender

Transgender Men
Transgender Women
Gender Non-Binary

ORCiD

Poteat - 0000-0001-6541-3787