Special Circulation Issue Advances Women's Cardiovascular Health Research During American Heart Month

The American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation has published a special Go Red for Women issue during American Heart Month 2026, showcasing research that advances understanding of cardiovascular disease in women. This issue addresses longstanding gaps in women's cardiovascular care, with cardiovascular disease remaining the leading cause of death for women globally despite significant progress in prevention, diagnosis, and management through increased sex-specific research. The 2026 Go Red for Women issue confirms Circulation's dedication to advancing women's cardiovascular health by featuring new research about cardiovascular disease in women across the lifespan.

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association reveals that premenopausal women with acute coronary syndromes often face delayed diagnosis and atypical symptom recognition, resulting in worse outcomes compared to men. The statement encourages improved clinical awareness, tailored diagnostic strategies, and greater representation of women in research to close these gaps. According to the Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, nearly 45% of women older than age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, and women are likely to face delays in care when dealing with cardiac events. Women often misattribute cardiac symptoms to less serious causes and 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.

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 recognition and diagnosis in patients. In her article featured in the special issue, "Redefining Cardiovascular Medicine: The Journey from 'Does Sex Matter?' to 'How Does Sex Matter?'," she urges clinicians, healthcare professionals, and researchers to understand the role that sex plays in cardiovascular health and disease. The article emphasizes that improving the cardiovascular health of women requires going beyond being an ally to becoming an advocate in integrating sex as a biological variable as a foundational pillar in improving health outcomes for all.

Research in the special issue examines pregnancy-related cardiovascular health, including 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 blood pressure in children. Additional studies investigate how preexisting conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome are associated with various cardiovascular conditions. Researchers also examined opportunities to increase women's design of and leadership in clinical trials by advocating for initiatives that advance participation of women investigators in clinical research, with less than 40% of all research trial participants being women according to available data.

The American Heart Association launched Go Red for Women in 2004 to better understand women's cardiovascular health and address gaps in care. Funds raised by the initiative are dedicated to research, awareness, and education about women's heart health and have supported more than 200,000 healthcare professionals with educational tools to improve women's health and care. The special issue includes multiple research articles and perspectives from around the world that illuminate the current state of cardiovascular disease in women and inform future directions. Additional resources including scientific statements and manuscripts are available through the American Heart Association's publications.