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A four-in-one polypill that combines three blood pressure-lowering drugs with one cholesterol-lowering drug would reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by 20-40 percent, doctors from nine countries, including those in Bengaluru, reported Saturday.
The polypill can be consumed alone or with aspirin of different benefits.
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The study involved over 5,714 patients in 89 centers in nine countries, including 39 centers in India over an eight-year period. The Indian part of the process was coordinated by St John’s Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore.
“A polypill is not only effective, it is also likely to be cost-effective as well since it relies on the use of commonly used generic drugs,” said Prem Pais, principal co-investigator of the study and professor at St John’s Medical College. and Research Institute.
“A polypill is convenient for patients to use as it combines several effective drugs into one pill and is taken once a day, which should improve adherence.”
When you have it, polypill can reduce the chances of heart attack, stroke or angioplasty by about 20%, but when taken with aspirin, those chances are reduced by 40%. The multi-medical pill combines simvastatin to lower cholesterol with atenolol; hydrochlorothiazide and ramipril. It can be combined with a daily dose of aspirin.
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“This result is very encouraging. This is another example of India’s contribution to global science. The polypill strategy is worth considering for widespread use. Costs can be further reduced for our people if and when they enter our national programs, “said Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and former professor of cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. .
As the most common serious disease globally, cardiovascular disease causes 18 million deaths each year, of which over 80% in low- and middle-income countries. In India, nearly 30% of all deaths and 15% of morbidity are caused by cardiovascular disease. The numbers have doubled since 1990.
“We could save millions of people from severe heart disease or stroke every year with effective use of the polypill and aspirin,” said Salim Yusuf, principal co-researcher for the study and professor of medicine at McMaster University in Canada.
As published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study in which participants took the medicine for an average of 4.5 years, showed that the benefits were maximal for those who took the medicine without interruption.
“Studies of this nature are very difficult to conduct as they involve many centers and the participants must be followed at least twice a year. In India we recruited 49% of the total sample size. This has been possible for us as we have built a collaboration for over two decades, ”said Denis Xavier, professor at St. John’s and head of the clinical research division.
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