Cardiovascular diseases and depression are both common diseases in developed countries. It is known that people suffering from cardiovascular disease are at an increased risk of depression and vice versa. However, the way these two diseases interact with each other, if one causes the other or if both have common risk factors is not clear. Gaining a better understanding would enable to development of better prevention programs and better therapies. As both diseases are responsible for a large part of all morbidity and mortality in many countries the results could have a substancial impact on public health.
