Shared framework aims to redefine heart health for girls and women

The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have collaborated to release a new framework aimed at redefining heart health in girls and women. This comprehensive approach outlines four distinct life stages for women, from puberty through menopause and beyond, providing healthcare professionals with a holistic way to discuss heart health throughout a woman's life.

The framework, published in Circulation, is the first coordinated, multisociety initiative to prevent, detect, and manage cardiovascular disease in women. It emphasizes the unique impact of biological transitions on women's heart health, including puberty, periods, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming over 400,000 lives in the U.S. each year, yet only 41% of women recognize it as their greatest health threat.

The new approach aims to address the fragmented and disconnected care women often receive across clinical specialties, providing shared guidance for clinicians to recognize risk earlier and prioritize cardiovascular health at every stage of a woman's life.

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