The American Heart Association has published a special Go Red for Women issue of its flagship journal, Circulation, focusing on women's cardiovascular health for American Heart Month 2026. The issue highlights research that advances understanding of how heart disease and stroke affect women differently, with an emphasis on pregnancy-related cardiovascular conditions, acute coronary syndromes in premenopausal women, and the need for inclusive research practices.
According to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, nearly 45% of women over age 20 live with some form of cardiovascular disease. Despite this, women often face delays in care when experiencing cardiac events. A new American Heart Association scientific statement published in the special issue details that premenopausal women with acute coronary syndromes frequently encounter delayed diagnosis and atypical symptom recognition, leading to worse outcomes compared to men. The statement encourages improved clinical awareness, tailored diagnostic strategies, and greater representation of women in research to close these gaps.
Dr. Stacey Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, contributed an article titled "Redefining Cardiovascular Medicine: The Journey from 'Does Sex Matter?' to 'How Does Sex Matter?'" She urges clinicians, healthcare professionals, and researchers to understand the role sex plays in cardiovascular health and disease. "Improving the cardiovascular health of women is a call to action for every clinician, researcher and educator to go beyond being an ally; to become an advocate or even an accomplice in integrating 'sex as a biological variable' as a foundational pillar," she wrote.
The special issue includes original research on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their link to premature cardiovascular disease, the impact of discontinuing statins before pregnancy on maternal and infant outcomes, and the association of maternal smoking during pregnancy with childhood blood pressure. Other studies examine polycystic ovarian syndrome and long-term arrhythmia risk, as well as aortic dissection in women with Turner syndrome.
Additionally, researchers explore opportunities to increase women's leadership in clinical trials and leverage artificial intelligence to improve understanding of cardiovascular disease risk in women. Less than 40% of research trial participants are women, highlighting the need for targeted recruitment efforts.
Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, associate editor of Circulation and special editor for the Go Red for Women issue, stated: "Cardiovascular care for women is being redefined from early life through older age. This year's issue exemplifies this commitment, featuring an impressive collection of research articles and perspectives from around the world that illuminate the current state of CVD in women and inform future directions."
The American Heart Association launched Go Red for Women in 2004 to address gaps in women's cardiovascular care. Funds raised support research, awareness, and education, and have helped more than 200,000 healthcare professionals with educational tools to improve women's health.
For more information, the full manuscripts are available here. Additional resources can be accessed via the American Heart Association Newsroom.
