The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have jointly released a landmark publication that redefines heart health for girls and women. The three-part guidance, published in Circulation, establishes a Female Life Stage framework to help clinicians identify cardiovascular risk early and take action from puberty through menopause and beyond.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more than 400,000 lives in the U.S. each year—more than breast cancer, lung cancer and chronic lung disease combined. Yet only about 4 in 10 women recognize it as their greatest health threat. A 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement projected that if trends continue, the proportion of U.S. women ages 20 and older with high blood pressure will rise from approximately 49% in 2020 to 59% in 2050. Meanwhile, maternal mortality has increased, with cardiovascular conditions accounting for more than one-third of maternal deaths in the U.S.
"Women experience their healthcare across clinical specialties, but it often is fragmented or disconnected," said Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, chair of the collaborative writing group and Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "These reports connect the dots for clinicians, for patients and across health domains so that care is holistic and begins in adolescence." The framework defines four stages based on female biology: perimenarche (ages 8-15), ovarian cycling (15-44), Perimenopause (45-51) and postmenopause (51 and older). Pregnancy is highlighted as a biological "stress test" that can unmask cardiovascular risk at any stage.
The guidance recognizes menstrual cycle patterns as a female-specific vital sign, with heavy or irregular bleeding serving as early markers of risk. It also notes that the 2026 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology cholesterol guideline now includes pregnancy-related factors in risk assessment. For clinicians, the PREVENT equations enable 10- and 30-year sex-specific risk estimation.
The societies call for a national network of Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care built on four pillars: interdisciplinary clinical care, professional education and training, research and community engagement. The three manuscripts include a A Female-Specific Life Course Approach to the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease, a Consensus Guidance for the Female-Specific Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease and a Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care.
"All girls and women deserve more healthy years to live their fullest lives," Khan said. "Advancing women's health is a responsibility we all share." The initiative also addresses gaps in postpartum care, noting that only about 60% of U.S. women with high blood pressure-related pregnancy complications receive follow-up care within six months of delivery. Additional resources include a patient guide, A Woman’s Heart Through Every Stage of Life - A guide to protecting your heart from your first period through menopause and beyond, and a My Heart & Health Checklist - Questions to think about before your next visit. The full release is available via www.newmediawire.com.
