A "super pill" that contains a combination of medications commonly used for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure was lately developed. Scientists claim this pill can prevent strokes and heart attacks.
This super pill is called a polypill which was developed during the international SPACE (Single Pill to Avert Cardiovascular Events) collaboration led by scientists from George Institute for Global Health in Australia. In the largest analysis ever made on the medication, researchers found that the use of a polypill shows potential for cardiovascular disease improvements.
New data was presented at the World Heart Federation's World Congress of Cardiology 2014, showed that patient adherence and risk among high risk patients improved significantly after receiving a polypill, as opposed to the usual care they receive. Nearly one in four patients adhered more to the treatment and improvements in cholesterol and blood pressure were significant.
The SPACE project studied 3,140 patients who already have a cardiovascular disease or a high risk of it in Australia, India and Europe. The researchers found a 43 percent increase in patients adhering to medication after one year of taking the polypill and improvements in cholesterol and blood pressure levels as well. Patients who did not have a full treatment before the study showed the most significant improvement. These patients represent most of CVD patients around the world.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the world, causing the death of 17.3 million people every year. CVD is expected to remain as the world's number one cause of death in the succeeding years. As per the researchers, the most important finding is that untreated patients receive the most significant benefit from a polypill.
Polypill is appealing and scientists now have a very comprehensive analysis to this medication in high risk cardiovascular disease patients. The polypill is relatively affordable and even patients in developing countries can now have access to this treatment, considerably improving global health.
"These results emphasize the importance of the polypill as a foundation for a global strategy on cardiovascular disease prevention," World Heart Federation president and professor Salim Yusuf said. "It will improve patient access to essential medications at an affordable cost and wide use of the polypill can avoid several millions of premature CVD events."
