Final answer:
The EMPA-REG Outcomes Trial indicated a significant reduction in CV deaths for patients on empagliflozin, but the specific relative risk reduction is not provided in the question. Depression is linked to increased CV death risk, and preventative medications have proven effective in reducing disease incidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The EMPA-REG Outcomes Trial demonstrated that patients taking empagliflozin had a significant reduction in the incidence of cardiovascular (CV) deaths. However, the question does not provide the exact figure for the relative risk reduction. Various studies have emphasized the importance of emotional and psychological factors, including depression, in contributing to cardiovascular disease risk. For example, depressed individuals have been found to have a higher incidence of CV death: 50% more in men and 70% more in women.
Moreover, having elevated depressive symptoms is associated with a 64% greater risk of developing heart disease. Research illustrates that interventions can effectively reduce the risk of CV disease, as evidenced in the EMPA-REG study and in trials where preventative medications were administered to at-risk patients, leading to decreased disease development after four years as opposed to controls.