Four medical societies issue framework for girls’ and women’s heart health

Four medical societies have issued a framework for preventing, detecting and managing cardiovascular disease in girls and women. The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine published three papers in Circulation, according to STAT and Medical Xpress.

The framework describes four life stages: the transition around the first period, ovarian cycling, perimenopause and postmenopause. It treats pregnancy as an event that can affect cardiovascular health at any or multiple stages. The guidance aims to help clinicians connect care across specialties and consider cardiovascular, hormonal and emotional health together. Medical Xpress reported that the societies also called for a national network of Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care, with work in clinical care, training, research and community engagement.