Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women globally, yet significant gaps persist in diagnosis, treatment, and research representation according to a special issue of Circulation published for American Heart Month 2026. The Go Red for Women issue highlights research addressing pregnancy-related cardiovascular health, diagnostic challenges for premenopausal women, and systemic barriers to equitable care.
The American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics reveal nearly 45% of women over age 20 live with some form of cardiovascular disease. A new scientific statement focused on acute coronary syndromes in premenopausal women, published in this special issue, documents that women often face delayed diagnosis and worse outcomes compared to men. Women frequently misattribute cardiac symptoms to less serious causes and are less likely than men to receive immediate emergency department triage when presenting with cardiac symptoms.
Dr. Stacey Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, addresses the longstanding gap in women's cardiovascular care in her article "Redefining Cardiovascular Medicine: The Journey from 'Does Sex Matter?' to 'How Does Sex Matter?'" She writes, "It was this profound disparity that served as a critical wake-up call in cardiovascular medicine. As the data began to reveal a widening mortality gap for women, the question evolved from 'Does sex matter?' to a resounding 'How does sex matter?'" Her article urges clinicians and researchers to integrate sex as a biological variable as foundational to improving health outcomes.
Pregnancy-related research features prominently in the issue, with studies examining how hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute to premature cardiovascular disease, how stopping statins prior to pregnancy affects maternal and infant outcomes, and the impact of smoking during pregnancy on children's blood pressure. Additional research explores how preexisting conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome associate with various cardiovascular conditions.
The issue also addresses systemic research gaps, noting that less than 40% of all research trial participants are women. Articles advocate for increasing women's design and leadership in clinical trials and leveraging artificial intelligence to better understand CVD risk in women and enhance recruitment. Researchers presented ways to improve participation through initiatives detailed in resources available here.
Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, Circulation associate editor and special editor for the GRFW issue, wrote that "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 health knowledge and care. Funds raised have supported more than 200,000 healthcare professionals with educational tools to improve women's health. Additional scientific statements and resources are available through the Association's publications, including their acute coronary syndromes statement accessible here.
Special editors Drs. Mercedes Carnethon and Sana Al-Khatib will discuss the issue's findings on the Circulation on the Run podcast, available February 16, 2026. The research collectively represents a critical step toward addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular research and improving clinical outcomes through sex-specific approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
