Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women globally, yet significant disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and research participation persist, according to a special Go Red for Women issue of Circulation published during American Heart Month 2026. The issue features research highlighting how premenopausal women with acute coronary syndromes often face delayed diagnosis and atypical symptom recognition, resulting in worse outcomes compared to men. A new American Heart Association scientific statement detailed in the issue notes that women are less likely than men to be immediately triaged in emergency departments when presenting with cardiac symptoms, making them particularly vulnerable to missed heart attacks.
The American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics reveal that nearly 45% of women older than 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Stacey Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, acknowledges the longstanding gap in women's cardiovascular care that has led to missed insights into how heart disease affects women. In her article "Redefining Cardiovascular Medicine: The Journey from 'Does Sex Matter?' to 'How Does Sex Matter?'," she urges clinicians and researchers to integrate sex as a biological variable as a foundational pillar in improving health outcomes. The full manuscript can be viewed here.
Several studies in the special issue examine pregnancy-related cardiovascular health, including how hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute to premature cardiovascular disease. Research also investigates how stopping statins prior to pregnancy affects maternal and infant outcomes, and the impact of smoking during pregnancy on blood pressure in children. Other articles explore how preexisting conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome are associated with various cardiovascular conditions.
A critical finding highlighted in the issue is the underrepresentation of women in clinical research, with less than 40% of all research trial participants being women. Researchers examined opportunities to increase women's design of and leadership in clinical trials by advocating for initiatives that advance participation of women investigators. Additional studies presented ways to leverage artificial intelligence to improve understanding of cardiovascular disease risk in women and to enhance abilities to recruit women to participate in trials.
The Go Red for Women initiative, launched by the American Heart Association in 2004, has dedicated funds to research, awareness, and education about women's heart health, supporting more than 200,000 healthcare professionals with educational tools. Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, Circulation associate editor and special editor for the GRFW issue, emphasized that cardiovascular care for women is being redefined from early life through older age, with the issue featuring research articles and perspectives from around the world that illuminate the current state of cardiovascular disease in women and inform future directions.
The special issue includes multiple original research articles, research letters, and perspective pieces addressing various aspects of women's cardiovascular health. These publications collectively underscore the need for improved clinical awareness, tailored diagnostic strategies, and greater representation of women in research to close existing gaps in cardiovascular care. The Association's overall financial information is available here.
