The American Heart Association will honor Emily S. Lau, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, with the 2026 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award for her research that documents a sharp increase in cardiovascular disease and complications during pregnancy. The award, announced by NEWMEDIAWIRE, recognizes the best scientific article on cardiovascular disease and stroke in women published in the past year. Dr. Lau, a cardiologist at Mass General Brigham and co-director of its Women’s Heart Health Program, will receive the award at the Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago on Nov. 7.
Her winning manuscript, “Contemporary Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Pregnancy: Insights from a Real-World Pregnancy Electronic Health Record Cohort,” was published in Circulation on Oct. 6, 2025. The study analyzed 56,833 pregnancies among 38,996 individuals from 2001 to 2019, making it one of the largest and most detailed examinations of maternal cardiovascular health in the United States. The findings reveal a troubling trend: the age-adjusted prevalence of maternal cardiovascular disease increased from 1% in 2001 to 7% in 2019, while pregnancy-related cardiovascular complications—including maternal death, major adverse cardiovascular events, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy—rose from 15% to 17% after age adjustment.
The research also uncovered stark disparities. Complications were disproportionately higher among non-Hispanic Black women and among those who entered pregnancy with conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or obesity. These results underscore that pregnancy is not only a window into a woman’s cardiovascular future but also a missed opportunity for early intervention. “Dr. Lau’s research demonstrates the urgent need to make cardiovascular health a routine part of care before, during and after pregnancy,” said Jennifer Hall, Ph.D., FAHA, chief of data science and analytics at the American Heart Association. “By documenting how cardiovascular disease and pregnancy-related complications have increased over time, this study identifies an important opportunity to recognize risk earlier, address disparities and help more women protect their heart health throughout their lives.”
The implications extend beyond obstetrics. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women, yet many still do not receive timely risk assessment or preventive counseling. Dr. Lau’s work suggests that the period around pregnancy—preconception, gestation, and the postpartum year—could serve as a critical touchpoint for identifying women at risk and connecting them with cardiology and lifestyle interventions. The study’s use of electronic health records from multiple institutions also demonstrates the power of real-world data to track population-level trends and inform clinical guidelines.
The award itself carries symbolic weight. Named for Dr. Nanette K. Wenger, a pioneer in women’s cardiovascular medicine, it reflects a growing recognition that sex-specific research is essential to improving outcomes. Dr. Lau’s selection from 130 submissions across 18 countries highlights the global relevance of her findings. As the American Heart Association continues its Research Goes Red® initiative, which aims to empower women to participate in health research, this study provides a clear mandate: pregnancy must be treated as a cardiovascular event, not just a reproductive one. For more information, visit heart.org or stroke.org.
