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Turino Miranda K, Greene DN, Collister D, Krasowski MD, Ahmed SB, Cirrincione LR, Rosas SE, Saad N, Pierre CC. A Holistic Framework for the Evaluation of Kidney Function in a Gender-Diverse Landscape. Am J Kidney Dis 2024; 84:232-240. [PMID: 38458377 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.01.522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The most commonly used equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate incorporate a binary male-female sex coefficient, which has important implications for the care of transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary (TGD) people. Whether "sex assigned at birth" or a binary "gender identity" is most appropriate for the computation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is unknown. Furthermore, the use of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) for the development of physical changes to align TGD people with their affirmed gender is increasingly common, and may result in changes in serum creatinine and cystatin C, the biomarkers commonly used to estimate glomerular filtration rate. The paucity of current literature evaluating chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and outcomes in TGD individuals on GAHT makes it difficult to assess any effects of GAHT on kidney function. Whether alterations in serum creatinine reflect changes in glomerular filtration rate or simply changes in muscle mass is unknown. Therefore, we propose a holistic framework to evaluate kidney function in TGD people. The framework focuses on kidney disease prevalence, risk factors, sex hormones, eGFR, other kidney function assessment tools, and the mitigation of health inequities in TGD people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keila Turino Miranda
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, California
| | - David Collister
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Kidney Disease Network, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Sylvia E Rosas
- Kidney and Hypertension Unit, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Nephrology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nathalie Saad
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christina C Pierre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Krasowski MD, Hines NG, Imborek KL, Greene DN. Impact of sex used for assignment of reference intervals in a population of patients taking gender-affirming hormones. J Clin Transl Endocrinol 2024; 36:100350. [PMID: 38737625 PMCID: PMC11087993 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcte.2024.100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Gender-affirming hormone therapy with either estradiol or testosterone for transgender persons can significantly impact chemistry and hematology laboratory tests. The sex used for assignment of reference intervals (RIs) in the electronic health record (EHR) will influence normal/abnormal flagging of test results. Objective To analyze common non-hormonal laboratory tests with sex-specific RIs ordered in patients with sexual orientation/gender identify (SOGI) field differences (one or more differences between legal sex, sex assigned at birth, and gender identity) in the EHR at an academic medical center in midwestern United States. Methods We utilized a previously characterized data set of patients at our institution that included chart review information on gender identity and gender-affirming therapy. We focused on the subset of these patients that had orders for 18 common laboratory tests in calendar year 2021. Results A total of 1336 patients with SOGI field differences (1218 or 91.2% identifying as gender-expansive; 892 or 66.8% receiving estradiol or testosterone as gender-affirming therapy) had a total of 9374 orders for 18 laboratory tests with sex-specific RIs. Hemoglobin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and high-density lipoprotein were the most frequently ordered tests. For patients taking estradiol, 128 of 970 (13.2%) creatinine and 39 of 193 (20.2%) hemoglobin measurements were within the RI for one sex but not the other. For those taking testosterone, 119 of 531 (22.4%) creatinine and 49 of 120 (40.8%) hemoglobin measurements were within the RI for one sex but not the other. Values above the cisgender female RI but within the cisgender male RI were common for hemoglobin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in patients taking testosterone. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware of the potential impact of gender-affirming therapy on laboratory tests and what sex/gender is being used in the EHR to assign RIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Nicole G. Hines
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | | | - Dina N. Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, 91016, USA
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Ho TF, Zenger B, Mark B, Hiatt L, Sullivan E, Steinberg BA, Lyons A, Spivak AM, Agarwal C, Adelman M, Hotaling J, Kiraly B, Talboys S. Characteristics of a transgender and gender-diverse patient population in Utah: Use of electronic health records to advance clinical and health equity research. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302895. [PMID: 38713697 PMCID: PMC11075904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, face unique challenges in accessing gender-affirming care and often experience disparities in a variety of health outcomes. Clinical research on TGD health is limited by a lack of standardization on how to best identify these individuals. The objective of this retrospective cohort analysis was to accurately identify and describe TGD adults and their use of gender-affirming care from 2003-2023 in a healthcare system in Utah, United States. International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 and 10 codes and surgical procedure codes, along with sexual orientation and gender identity data were used to develop a dataset of 4,587 TGD adults. During this time frame, 2,985 adults received gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and/or gender-affirming surgery (GAS) within one healthcare system. There was no significant difference in race or ethnicity between TGD adults who received GAHT and/or GAS compared to TGD adults who did not receive such care. TGD adults who received GAHT and/or GAS were more likely to have commercial insurance coverage, and adults from rural communities were underrepresented. Patients seeking estradiol-based GAHT tended to be older than those seeking testosterone-based GAHT. The first GAS occurred in 2013, and uptake of GAS have doubled since 2018. This study provides a methodology to identify and examine TGD patients in other health systems and offers insights into emerging trends and access to gender-affirming care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany F. Ho
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Brian Zenger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Bayarmaa Mark
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Laurel Hiatt
- Department of Human Genetics, Us1niversity of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Erika Sullivan
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Benjamin A. Steinberg
- Division of Cardiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Ann Lyons
- Data Science Services, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Adam M. Spivak
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Cori Agarwal
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Marisa Adelman
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - James Hotaling
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Bernadette Kiraly
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Sharon Talboys
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
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Boskey ER, Jolly D. Re: "Determining the Sex Assigned at Birth of Transgender and Nonbinary Populations in Administrative Claims Databases Utilizing Diagnostic and Procedure Codes" by Haley et al. Transgend Health 2024; 9:192-193. [PMID: 38585243 PMCID: PMC10998010 DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2023.0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Boskey
- Division of Gynecology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dee Jolly
- Boston Children's Hospital, Center for Gender Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
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Hines NG, Greene DN, Imborek KL, Krasowski MD. Patterns of gender identity data within electronic health record databases can be used as a tool for identifying and estimating the prevalence of gender-expansive people. JAMIA Open 2023; 6:ooad042. [PMID: 37359949 PMCID: PMC10290553 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Electronic health records (EHRs) within the United States increasingly include sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) fields. We assess how well SOGI fields, along with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and medication records, identify gender-expansive patients. Materials and Methods The study used a data set of all patients that had in-person inpatient or outpatient encounters at an academic medical center in a rural state between December 1, 2018 and February 17, 2022. Chart review was performed for all patients meeting at least one of the following criteria: differences between legal sex, sex assigned at birth, and gender identity (excluding blank fields) in the EHR SOGI fields; ICD-10 codes related to gender dysphoria or unspecified endocrine disorder; prescription for estradiol or testosterone suggesting use of gender-affirming hormones. Results Out of 123 441 total unique patients with in-person encounters, we identified a total of 2236 patients identifying as gender-expansive, with 1506 taking gender-affirming hormones. SOGI field differences or ICD-10 codes related to gender dysphoria or both were found in 2219 of 2236 (99.2%) patients who identify as gender-expansive, and 1500 of 1506 (99.6%) taking gender-affirming hormones. For the gender-expansive population, assigned female at birth was more common in the 12-29 year age range, while assigned male at birth was more common for those 40 years and older. Conclusions SOGI fields and ICD-10 codes identify a high percentage of gender-expansive patients at an academic medical center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole G Hines
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, California, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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Yee K, Lind BK, Downing J. Change in Gender on Record and Transgender Adults' Mental or Behavioral Health. Am J Prev Med 2022; 62:696-704. [PMID: 34920916 PMCID: PMC9035075 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Within gender-diverse populations, gender-affirming changes in gender on record may improve mental or behavioral health. This study uses claims data to investigate whether sex assigned at birth modifies the association between change in gender on record and mental or behavioral health. METHODS Adult Oregon Medicaid beneficiaries with gender identity-related diagnoses and enrolled during 2010-2019 were included. Sex assigned at birth was inferred from medical and pharmacy claims and was categorized as assigned female, assigned male, or unknown sex assigned at birth. Self-reported gender ascertained at initial enrollment differing from sex assigned at birth indicated a change in gender on record. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the association between change in gender on record and mental (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder) or behavioral (alcohol, substance, or tobacco use disorders) health. Analyses were conducted in February 2021. RESULTS This study included 2,940 transgender and nonbinary adults. Of the 1,451 self-reporting female gender and 1,489 self-reporting male gender, 449 (30.9%) were assigned male at birth, and 303 (20.3%) were assigned female at birth, classified as changing their gender on record. Predicted probability of mental or behavioral conditions was significantly lower in those who changed their gender on record. Sex assigned at birth modified the association with mental health: assigned female at birth reporting female gender had the highest burdens, followed by assigned male at birth reporting male. Secondary analyses using a modified change in gender definition or alternative sex assigned at birth inference method found similar trends. CONCLUSIONS Oregon Medicaid gender-diverse beneficiaries who changed their gender on record had a meaningfully lower probability of mental and behavioral health conditions. Those assigned female at birth reporting female gender had the highest burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Yee
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.
| | - Bonnie K Lind
- Center for Health Systems Effectiveness, Oregon Health and & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jae Downing
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
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