Utilization of Recommended Preventive Health Screenings Between Transgender and Cisgender Older Adults in Sexual and Gender Minority Communities

Getting old in the desired gender: a systematic review on aging diseases in transgender people

INTRODUCTION

The growing demographic presence of the transgender (TGD) population has sparked an increase in clinical investigations focusing on the impacts of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in adults with gender dysphoria. Despite this surge in studies, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the health status of older TGD individuals. This review aims to assess prevalent pathological conditions within the TGD population, specifically concentrating on aging-related diseases investigated to date.

METHODS

A systematic search across Embase Ovid, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify articles reporting on the aging process in TGD individuals. Methodological quality was evaluated using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scores.

RESULTS

Initial database searches yielded 12,688 studies, which were refined to 18 through elimination of duplicates and title/abstract review. Following a comprehensive appraisal, nine studies were included in the systematic review. These articles, published between 2017 and 2023, involved a total of 5403 participants. The evidence indicates a noteworthy percentage of the TGD population being at risk for cardiovascular diseases, experiencing depression or disability, and demonstrating hesitancy toward major recommended screening programs.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited studies on older TGD individuals highlight not only an organic risk of chronic diseases but also a cognitive/psychiatric risk that should not be underestimated. Further research is imperative to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the health challenges faced by older TGD individuals.

Cancer screening attendance rates in transgender and gender-diverse patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To examine disparities in attendance rates at cancer screening services between transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people in comparison with their cisgender (CG) counterparts, and to determine whether these differences were based on the anatomical organ screened.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE (via Ovid), CINAHL Complete (via EBSCO) and Cochrane Library from inception to 30 September 2023.

METHODS

Studies for inclusion were case-control or cross-sectional studies with quantitative data that investigated TGD adults attending any cancer screening service. Exclusion criteria were studies with participants who were ineligible for cancer screening or without samples from TGD individuals, qualitative data and a cancer diagnosis from symptomatic presentation or incidental findings. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias, during which seven reports were found incompatible with the inclusion criteria and excluded. Results were synthesised through random-effects meta-analysis and narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

We identified 25 eligible records, of which 18 were included in the analysis. These were cross-sectional studies, including retrospective chart reviews and survey analyses, and encompassed over 14.8 million participants. The main outcomes measured were up-to-date (UTD) and lifetime (LT) attendance. Meta-analysis found differences for UTD cervical (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.60, p<0.0001) and mammography (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.87, p=0.02) but not for prostate or colorectal screening. There were no meaningful differences seen in LT attendance based on quantitative synthesis. Narrative synthesis of the seven remaining articles mostly supported the meta-analysis. Reduced rates of screening engagement in TGD participants were found for UTD cervical and mammography screening, alongside LT mammography screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with their CG counterparts, TGD individuals had lower rates of using cervical and mammography screening at the recommended frequencies but displayed similar prevalences of LT attendance. The greatest disparity was seen in UTD cervical screening. Limitations of this review included high risk of bias within studies, high heterogeneity and a lack of resources for further statistical testing. Bridging gaps in healthcare to improve cancer screening experiences and outcomes will require consolidated efforts including working with the TGD community.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022368911.

Healthcare needs and assets of gender diverse older adults: A systematic integrative review

INTRODUCTION

Gender diverse older adults often endure health disparities, encounter discrimination in healthcare settings, and experience lack of access to healthcare. However, members of this population also have assets that help to mitigate these healthcare challenges. A systematic integrative review was performed to synthesize recent studies of the healthcare needs and assets of gender diverse older adults living in the United States.

METHODS

A search of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar was conducted. Findings from selected studies were organized by theme and subtheme.

RESULTS

Thirty-five articles met inclusion criteria. Seven themes were identified: (1) Inclusivity and acceptance, (2) Antidiscrimination protections, (3) Community, (4) Care of mind, body, and spirit, (5) End of life preparations, (6) Financial security, and (7) Intersectionality. These themes were further divided into 20 healthcare needs and 9 healthcare assets.

CONCLUSION

The findings call for increased training for healthcare providers to provide safe, gender-inclusive care environments; policy to combat discrimination across all healthcare settings; supportive community resources and healthcare advocacy; empowerment of gender diverse older adults through acknowledgment of their healthcare assets; and more research to discern the role of intersectionality in the applicability of the identified themes to gender diverse older adults of various sociodemographic backgrounds.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This review benefits clinicians by suggesting practice changes to address healthcare needs of gender diverse older adults while describing healthcare assets of this population for integration into health promotion initiatives.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Differences in Influenza, Shingles, and Pneumococcal Vaccination Among U.S. Older Adults

Purpose: LGBT older adults face challenges accessing and receiving culturally competent health care and may be more vulnerable to serious outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study examines whether sexual orientation and gender identity are associated with older adult influenza, zoster ("shingles"), and pneumococcal vaccine uptake. Methods: Data come from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The sample included older adults aged 50+ (eligible for influenza and shingles vaccination; n = 136,528) and 65+ (eligible for pneumococcal vaccination; n = 74,779). We calculated rates of influenza, shingles, and pneumococcal vaccine uptake by gender-stratified sexual orientation groups and for transgender versus cisgender populations. Logistic regression models tested for associations between sexual orientation, gender identity, and vaccine uptake, controlling for key sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Transgender adults had the lowest rates of uptake across all three vaccines, including 46% lower odds of shingles vaccination and 61% lower odds of pneumococcal vaccination, when compared with cisgender adults. Gay (vs. straight) men had 1.5-1.9 times greater odds of flu and shingles vaccination. Bisexual (vs. straight) women had 32% lower odds of flu vaccination. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that vaccine uptake among LGBT older adults varies by sexual orientation, gender identity, and vaccine type. Bisexual women and transgender people are groups that tend to underutilize health care services and are at increased risk of nonvaccination, making them important targets for older adult vaccine promotion.

Conceptualizing transgender and gender-diverse older adults as a vulnerable population: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

While extant literature clearly illustrates the negative experiences of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, the intersection between TGD identity and older age in producing vulnerability is poorly understood. The Vulnerable Populations Conceptual Model (VPCM) provides a framework for identifying vulnerable communities. Understanding access to resources, relative risks, and health status experienced by TGD older adults is critical in developing person-centered interventions.

METHODS

A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was used. CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO were searched for studies published from 2017 to 2022.

RESULTS

Of the seventeen articles included, no articles were based from a nursing journal. Synthesis of findings described TGD older adults as a vulnerable population with limited access to resources and several risks leading to poor health status.

CONCLUSION

Identifying TGD older adults as a vulnerable population is critical to understand their unique needs. The findings underline implications in nursing education, practice, and research.

Clinical Pharmacological Considerations in Transgender Medicine

Transgender medicine is a growing clinical field. Hormone therapy (testosterone or estrogen treatment) is part of the standard of gender-affirming medical care, yet clinical pharmacological knowledge in transgender medicine is lacking. Herein, we summarize available clinical and pharmacologic data for hormone therapy among transgender and gender diverse people.

Healthcare Mistreatment, State-Level Policy Protections, and Healthcare Avoidance Among Gender Minority People

INTRODUCTION

This study examined whether past experiences of mistreatment in healthcare were associated with greater healthcare avoidance due to anticipated mistreatment among gender minority (GM) people. We evaluated whether state-level healthcare policy protections moderated this relationship.

METHODS

Data from the 2018 Annual Questionnaire of The PRIDE Study, a national longitudinal study on sexual and gender minority people's health, were used in these analyses. Logistic regression modeling tested relationships between lifetime healthcare mistreatment due to gender identity or expression and past-year healthcare avoidance due to anticipated mistreatment among GM participants. Interactions between lifetime healthcare mistreatment and state-level healthcare policy protections and their relationship with past-year healthcare avoidance were tested.

RESULTS

Participants reporting any lifetime healthcare mistreatment had greater odds of past-year healthcare avoidance due to anticipated mistreatment among gender expansive people (n = 1290, OR = 4.71 [CI]: 3.57-6.20), transfeminine people (n = 263, OR = 10.32 [CI]: 4.72-22.59), and transmasculine people (n = 471, OR = 3.90 [CI]: 2.50-6.13). Presence of state-level healthcare policy protections did not moderate this relationship in any study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

For GM people, reporting lifetime healthcare mistreatment was associated with healthcare avoidance due to anticipated mistreatment. State-level healthcare policy protections were not a moderating factor in this relationship. Efforts to evaluate the implementation and enforcement of state-level policies are needed. Continued efforts to understand instances of and to diminish healthcare mistreatment of GM people are recommended.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13178-022-00748-1.