Transgenderism in studies on the health of older adults: a systematic review

Objective: To describe how transgenderism is studied in research on the health of older adults. Methods: This was a systematic literature review, with searches conducted in September 2022 across the LILACS, MEDLINE/ PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases. The articles were selected independently by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools and data synthesis followed the Entreq and Swim protocols. Results: A total of 15 studies were included, eight qualitative and seven quantitative, from 2014 to 2023. Most of them specifically analyzed the transgender population. The qualitative studies focused on individuals' perceptions and experiences, health care planning and support networks. The quantitative studies addressed gender characterization, health status (including mental health), and associations with social determinants. Conclusion: Despite the different approaches, the studies addressed the subject in the context of accumulated stigmas and discrimination faced this population.