Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have conducted a new study on the benefits of “polypills” in preventing heart attacks and strokes, which have been slow to gain favor despite previous findings supporting their effectiveness. The concept of combining medications targeting cardiovascular disease-related conditions into a single pill was introduced nearly 25 years ago, with the potential to reduce deaths from heart disease and strokes. Despite years of research supporting the use of polypills, their adoption remains low globally.
The recent study conducted by the researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis adds further evidence to the benefits of polypills in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and reducing deaths among individuals with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the potential of polypills by including them in its Model List of Essential Medicines, emphasizing their importance in treating common diseases effectively and cost-effectively.
Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the study analyzed data from 26 clinical trials to evaluate the effects of polypills on preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The analysis revealed that individuals taking polypills had an 11% lower risk of death from any cause and a 29% lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events compared to those not taking polypills. The researchers also found that polypill usage was associated with lower levels of LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure.
Lead author Anubha Agarwal, MD, emphasized the effectiveness of polypills in preventing cardiovascular disease and highlighted the potential for wider adoption to reduce the global impact of heart disease. The study’s senior author, Mark D. Huffman, MD, emphasized the need to focus on implementing and sustaining the use of polypills to prevent millions of heart attacks and strokes every year.
Despite the clear benefits of polypills, their availability remains limited due to the lack of incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in manufacturing them, especially when generic medicines are involved. The WHO’s endorsement of polypills may encourage national governments and international agencies to fund them, potentially increasing access in low- and middle-income countries. The ongoing evolution of the polypill field highlights the importance of finding sustainable ways to promote their use for cardiovascular disease prevention.