The Authors Reply

Abstract

We agree that the gaps in care to women with coronary disease are likely multifactorial. Research has pointed to delays in care to women across a spectrum from patients' decisions to seek care,^1,2 to delays in hospital transit time³ and in time to intervention,⁴ and to less aggressive intervention.⁵ The role of depression in delays in care may function at multiple levels, including the methods by which patients seek care for symptoms and the difficulty in differentiating symptoms of new atypical angina that may overlap with their underlying symptoms of depression, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and sleep disturbance.

Addressing disparities in cardiac care to all women and to women in racial and ethnic minority groups in specific will require a multifaceted approach looking at both the social determinants of health and healthcare and the role of comorbidities in diagnosis and treatment. Ongoing research is needed to examine the best methods to translate these findings into interventions to best care for all women with heart disease.

Footnotes

Disclosure Statement

The author has no conflicts of interest to report.

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