Possible confounders
The data suggest that “in the context of chronic illnesses like asthma, it is crucial to offer patients the knowledge and tools required to proficiently handle their conditions,” Dr. Kaplan said, adding that the differences seen between SGM and non-SGM respondents may be caused by health care disparities among SGM people that result in nonadherence to regular follow-ups.
In an interview, Jean Bourbeau, MD, MSc, who was a moderator for the session but was not involved in the study, commented that “we have to be very careful before making any conclusions, because this population could be at high risk for different reasons, and especially, do they get the same attention in terms of the care that is provided to the general population, and do they get access to the same medication?”
Nonetheless, Dr. Bourbeau continued, “I think this study is very important, because it shows us how much awareness we need to determine differences in populations, and [sexual orientation] is probably one thing that nobody had considered before, and for the first time we are now considering these potential differences in our population.”
The authors did not report a study funding source. Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Bourbeau reported having no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.