Top Things to Know: Forecasting the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women in the US Through 2050
Published: February 25, 2026
- Women make up just under half of the total incident and prevalent CVD in the US and typically outlive their male counterparts.
- Biological and social underpinnings of CVD incidence and progression are different in women than in men, and unique interventions may be needed to improve cardiovascular health in women.
- Disparities associated with race and ethnicity remain in women’s cardiovascular health outcomes. In the U.S. Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women, as well as subgroups of Asian Americans, have higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors, adverse pregnancy outcomes, incident and prevalent CVD, and higher cardiovascular mortality.
- The prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors is projected to rise substantially, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and inadequate sleep, while hypercholesterolemia and unhealthy behaviors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking are expected to decline. Overall, cardiovascular disease and related conditions including coronary disease, heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation are projected to increase over time.
- The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and disease in women and girls is projected to increase over the next 30 years.
- Health factor management: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and cholesterol are discussed in this scientific statement.
- Other areas discussed that affect female health include puberty, menarche and adolescence, women of reproductive age and pregnancy, and menopause.
- Considerations for demographic and social drivers of health that are women specific are discussed in this scientific statement.
- Overall focused clinical and public health interventions are needed across the life course for women and girls to address these adverse trends examined in this statement.
Citation
Joynt Maddox KE, Reynolds HR, Adedinsewo D, Bushnell C, DeVon HA, Gooding HC, Howard VJ, Mauricio R, Miller EC, Sharma G, Waken RJ; on behalf of the American Heart Association Women’s Health Science Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology and Stroke Council; Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; and Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Forecasting the burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the United States through 2050 in women: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. Published online February 25, 2026. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001406