Nearly 20 % of LGBTQ people report feeling discriminated against in primary care consultations due to their sexual orientation, a percentage that is even higher among lesbians and bisexuals. These are the preliminary results of the IRIS Project, the first study conducted in Europe on the cardiovascular health of this community, led by the Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAPJGol) and funded by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).
Other preliminary results highlight that one in ten participants reports feeling discriminated against due to sex or gender in consultations, a percentage that is especially high among trans people, and 70 % have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity to healthcare professionals.
Improving healthcare
The IRIS project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the cardiovascular health of LGBTQ people and to improve the healthcare they receive in primary care centres.
Through a chain-referral survey, the research team compares the use of healthcare resources between LGBTQ individuals (how often they visit their primary care centre) and the general population, as well as their lifestyle habits, risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, etc.), cardiovascular diseases they currently have or have had, and treatment adherence.
More participants needed
So far, 200 LGBTQ people over the age of 35 receiving care in primary care centres in Catalonia have participated. To gain more comprehensive information on the cardiovascular health of the community and on the care they receive at the first level of healthcare, more participants are needed.
Each person taking part in the study must complete an online questionnaire and invite up to three new people to join—a specific sampling method for studying marginalised populations known as respondent-driven sampling.
People interested in participating should contact the project’s research team at salutlgtbiqa@idiapjgol.info.
More information about the project: https://www.projecteiris.com/
