Polypills for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease reduced all-cause mortality by 11% and risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events by 29%, a recent study found.
The study, published March 26 in Nature, analyzed studies from 2016 to 2022 to assess the effects of fixed-dose combination therapy, or polypill therapy, to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The trials selected used at least one blood pressure-lowering drug and one lipid-lowering drug.
Among 26 trials, polypills were associated with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, higher rates of adherence, and with adverse events in both primary and mixed secondary prevention populations.
"These findings support adoption and implementation of polypills to lower risk for all-cause mortality and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease," the study authors wrote.