The American Heart Association announced a new initiative to transform how clinicians identify and treat cardiovascular risk in midlife women, powered by a $1 million philanthropic gift from Dr. Jennifer Ashton and her husband Tom Werner. This investment will accelerate the creation of a professional educational program uniting cardiologists and OB-GYNs to ensure women navigating the menopause transition receive proactive, evidence-based cardiovascular care.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, responsible for 1 in 3 female deaths each year, and is projected to increase over the next few decades. The menopause transition represents a life stage marked by sharp, independent increases in cardiometabolic risk that often go unrecognized in clinical care. According to the Association, hot flashes and night sweats are associated with worse cardiovascular disease risk factor levels, while cholesterol levels and metabolic syndrome risk appear to increase with menopause beyond the effects of normal aging.
The planned educational initiative will equip cardiologists and OB-GYNs with practical, interdisciplinary tools and education to better identify and treat cardiovascular risk in midlife women and close treatment gaps. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, stated that this commitment will accelerate the development of interdisciplinary education and redefine how cardiovascular and gynecologic health are connected across a woman's life course.
The vision for the new continuing education program is collaborative, with the Heart Association working with other professional medical societies and organizations focused on women's health care. The overall goal is to increase healthcare professional knowledge, competence and performance around women's heart health with a focus on menopause and other OB-GYN issues. Amy Young, M.D., CEO of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, emphasized that menopause represents a period when women's cardiovascular risks intensify, underscoring the need for truly coordinated, evidence-informed care.
Dr. Ashton explained the program's necessity, noting that women's cardiovascular risks are too often overlooked in midlife because OB-GYNs often don't know the latest cardiology information, and cardiologists often are unaware of the most current aspects of menopause medicine. This program seeks to connect the dots between these two specialties with tailored curricula. Additional resources on this topic are available through the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women initiative and their scientific statement on Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.
For many women, the menopause transition marks the period when cardiovascular risk accelerates due to declining estrogen, increased abdominal fat, worsening lipid profiles, vascular stiffening, and rising blood pressure. The Association notes that only 7.2% of women transitioning to menopause meet physical activity guidelines, and fewer than 20% maintain a healthy diet, compounding midlife risk. After menopause, 1 in 4 women may develop irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, which increases stroke risk.
Initial courses for the new cardio-OB-GYN continuing education program will launch in Fall 2026, with additional modules released through Spring 2027. This initiative represents a significant step toward addressing the urgent need for coordinated, evidence-based guidance for women during this critical life stage, with potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease among women.
