Chronic diseases place a burden on individuals and families in MN. These burdens are unevenly distributed across populations and areas of the state. Older, rural, 2SLGBTQIA+ Minnesotans bear a higher burden of chronic disease. The prevalence of chronic conditions for Minnesotans 60+ has been increasing since 2009. About 76% of Minnesotans 60+ have at least one chronic condition. Obesity and hypertension also increase across MN populations aged 18-64 (source).

Chronic Disease in Minnesotan Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Women

Overall findings (source):

• Adults that identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) living in rural locations have the highest rates of chronic conditions overall (43.8% for rural LGB adults).
• The rates of chronic conditions in both rural and urban locations are higher for adults that identify as LGB compared to adults that identify as heterosexual.

% of Individuals Identifying as LGB That Have Been Told They Have:	Urban Settings	Rural Settings
Arthritis	36.4	29.4
Asthma	14.7	29.2
COPD	5.6	6.4
Heart disease	2.1	2.1
Diabetes	4.8	12.3
Had a heart attack	1.5	3.0
High blood cholesterol	17.6	21.0
High blood pressure	20.8	31.8
Had a stroke	1.8	1.9

Chronic Disease Mortality

• African American and Asian American women died from stroke 40% more than White women (source)
• Native American women die from heart disease 52% more often than White women (source)
• 59 women died due to asthma (source)
• 367 died due to heart attack (source)
• 5,953 died due to heart disease (source) 
• 647 died due to diabetes (source)
• 354 died to due chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (source)
• 250 died due to renal failure (source)