Objective:

The article examines the objective, findings, and clinical context described in 4 societies redefine women's heart care.

Approach:

• Developers: The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine developed the guidance.
• Publications: Three manuscripts in Circulation present a life-stage framework, consensus clinical guidance, and proposed national infrastructure for coordinated cardiovascular care.
• Life stages: The framework identifies perimenarche (approximately ages 8–15), ovarian cycling (15–44), perimenopause (45–51), and postmenopause (51 and older).

Key Findings:

• The guidance identifies menstrual abnormalities, pregnancy complications, and menopausal transitions as opportunities for earlier cardiovascular risk assessment.
• Pregnancy is described as a cardiovascular stress test; complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and stillbirth are recognized as risk enhancers.
• Menstrual patterns are proposed as a female-specific vital sign, while perimenopause is described as a period when changes in cholesterol and metabolic health may indicate emerging risk.
• Only about 60% of US women with hypertensive pregnancy complications receive hypertension follow-up within 6 months after delivery.
• The guidance calls for longitudinal assessment, including 10- and 30-year sex-specific risk estimation using AHA PREVENT equations, and proposes Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care.

Interpretation:

The societies call for cardiovascular risk assessment earlier and across more stages of women's lives, with coordination among clinical specialties.

Limitations:

• The provided context summarizes the guidance and does not include detailed methods, evidence grading, or study-level results.

Conclusion:

The AHA states that more than 80% of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure events occurring after menopause are preventable with early intervention.

Sources:

• American Heart Association