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The polypill, a tablet that contains multiple drugs, is packed with treatments to fight hypertension and fight cholesterol. But it can nearly halve the risk of heart disease and stroke when taken with aspirin, the researchers found. The scientists also said that when taken alone on a daily basis, the polypill can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by about 20% among those who have not had previous accidents but were at intermediate risk.
The team said the findings could help save millions of people from health problems every year.
Researcher Prem Pais, a professor at St John’s Medical College and Research Institute in Bangalore, India, said, “A polypill is convenient for patients as it combines several effective drugs into a single pill and is taken once a day, the which would be expected to improve grip.
“The study findings have implications for weight reduction of cardiovascular disease globally.
“Even if only one third of eligible people receive a polypill, using it will likely prevent millions of people suffering from severe cardiovascular disease around the world.”
The polypill is composed of simvastatin, which is used for the treatment of cholesterol, along with ramipril, atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide, which help reduce high blood pressure.
The researchers recruited 5,714 participants from nine countries, with men aged 50 and over and women aged 55 and over.
The volunteers were followed for almost five years.
Among those who continued taking the drugs without interruption, the benefits of the polypill taken with aspirin were greater and associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, causing 18 million deaths per year.
The findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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