DALLAS, Feb. 16, 2026 — Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death for women globally. However, significant strides in prevention, diagnosis, and management are being made, as highlighted in a special Go Red for Women issue of Circulation, the American Heart Association’s flagship journal, published today.
This special issue, dedicated to women’s cardiovascular health, features groundbreaking research on pregnancy-related cardiovascular issues, the effects of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, and the impact of smoking on children’s blood pressure. These topics are crucial as they shed light on how early-life conditions can influence long-term cardiovascular health.
Addressing Delays in Diagnosis and Treatment
The latest scientific statement from the American Heart Association reveals that premenopausal women with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) often experience delayed diagnosis and atypical symptom recognition compared to men. This delay results in worse outcomes, emphasizing the need for improved clinical awareness and tailored diagnostic strategies.
Dr. Stacey Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, acknowledges the longstanding gap in women’s cardiovascular care. She calls for a shift towards inclusive research and better representation of women in clinical trials to address these disparities.
“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 in the effort to improve health outcomes for all,” Dr. Rosen wrote.
Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Health
Several studies in the special issue examine conditions during pregnancy that impact both mothers and their children. These include hypertensive disorders, the effects of discontinuing statins before pregnancy, and the risks associated with maternal smoking. Such research is vital in understanding how these factors contribute to long-term cardiovascular risks.
For instance, the study by Anum S. Minhas et al. on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy highlights the increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease in young women. Another study by Ju Young Shin et al. explores the association of statin discontinuation with maternal cardiovascular health and birth outcomes.
Expanding Women’s Role in Cardiovascular Research
Beyond understanding disease, the issue also discusses the importance of increasing women’s participation in clinical trials. Ann B. Curtis et al. advocate for initiatives that enhance women’s leadership in clinical research, which is crucial as less than 40% of research trial participants are women.
Additionally, researchers like Roxana Mehran emphasize the potential of artificial intelligence to better understand CVD risk in women and improve recruitment strategies for trials. Such advancements could lead to more personalized and effective treatments for women.
Looking Forward: The Path to Better Care
The Go Red for Women initiative, launched in 2004, has been pivotal in raising awareness and funding research dedicated to women’s heart health. It has supported over 200,000 healthcare professionals with educational tools to improve care for women.
As the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics highlight, nearly 45% of women over 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. The findings in this special issue of Circulation underscore the importance of continued research and advocacy to close the gender gap in cardiovascular care.
Drs. Mercedes Carnethon and Sana Al-Khatib, special editors of the GRFW issue, will further discuss these findings in this week’s episode of the Circulation on the Run podcast. They will explore the unique challenges faced by women cardiologists and the future directions for research in women’s cardiovascular health. The podcast will be available on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. ET.
The dedication to advancing women’s cardiovascular health is clear, as noted by Mercedes Carnethon, Ph.D., FAHA, who wrote,
“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.”
As the medical community continues to embrace sex-specific research, the hope is that these efforts will lead to improved outcomes and a better understanding of how cardiovascular disease uniquely affects women.
