Cardiovascular disease and depression in women.

Heart disease and depression are very common, frequently concomitant, conditions that were previously speculated by the World Health Organization to be the first and second leading causes of disability (respectively) by the year 2020. There have been no secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease trials that have shown treatment of depression reduces cardiovascular events. Women are different, all with diverse types of cardiovascular disease and depression, which likely respond to different treatments. More clinical trials are needed to further assess the association of cardiovascular disease and depression, investigate biomarkers and ways to treat depression, and evaluate if treatment of depression makes a positive impact on cardiovascular outcomes.