Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network Centers.

Abstract

Twenty years ago, the American Heart Association (AHA) pioneered a national initiative to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. In 1997, only 1 in 3 women recognized heart disease as their leading killer, and the percentage doubled within a decade.1 In 2004, the AHA adopted the Red Dress symbol to represent the cause and, in conjunction with the release of the first evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of heart disease in women, launched the Go Red for Women campaign. The Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network represents another major milestone in the women and heart disease movement. Funded centers are listed in the Figure. Each center has synergistic population, clinical, and basic projects with a shared scientific theme. All centers train fellows and collaborate with each other in the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network to advance the mission and impact of the AHA. A recent AHA scientific statement highlighted the lack of sleep as an important contributor to obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and CVD.2 Women may be at particular risk of abnormal sleep and its consequences because of unique life stages and circumstances, such as caregiving responsibilities and hormonal changes. Despite the importance of sleep as a lifestyle risk factor, …