A special Go Red for Women issue of Circulation, the American Heart Association's flagship scientific journal, published on February 16, 2026, showcases significant research advancements in women's cardiovascular health during American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women globally, yet progress in prevention, diagnosis, and management has accelerated through increased sex-specific research. The issue features studies examining pregnancy-related cardiovascular health, including how hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute to premature cardiovascular disease, the effects of discontinuing statins before pregnancy on maternal and infant outcomes, and the impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy on childhood blood pressure.
The American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics reveal that nearly 45% of women older than age 20 live with some form of cardiovascular disease. A new scientific statement published in this special issue focuses on acute coronary syndromes in premenopausal women, finding they often face delayed diagnosis and atypical symptom recognition compared to men, resulting in worse outcomes. 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, increasing their vulnerability to missed heart attacks. The statement encourages improved clinical awareness, tailored diagnostic strategies, and greater representation of women in research to address these disparities.
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 and delayed patient recognition and diagnosis. In her article "Redefining Cardiovascular Medicine: The Journey from 'Does Sex Matter?' to 'How Does Sex Matter?'," she urges clinicians, healthcare professionals, and researchers to understand sex's role 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 in the effort to improve health outcomes for all," she wrote. Additional financial information about the Association is available here.
Other articles in the special issue address key knowledge gaps in women's cardiovascular health. Researchers examined how preexisting conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome associate with various cardiovascular conditions. Several studies investigated opportunities to increase women's design and leadership in clinical trials by advocating for initiatives that advance participation of women investigators in clinical research. Researchers also presented ways to leverage artificial intelligence to improve understanding of CVD risk in women and enhance recruitment of women to participate in trials, given that less than 40% of all research trial participants are women. The full manuscripts can be viewed here.
To better understand women's cardiovascular health and address care gaps, the Association launched Go Red for Women in 2004. Funds raised by GRFW support research, awareness, and education about women's heart health and have provided educational tools to over 200,000 healthcare professionals. Mercedes Carnethon, Ph.D., FAHA, Circulation associate editor and special editor for the GRFW issue, noted 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 special issue's findings have significant implications for clinical practice, research priorities, and public health initiatives aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease burden among women worldwide.
