A new study has found a “poly pill” can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 40 per cent. Researchers wanted to better understand the effectiveness of the pill that contained aspirin, atorvastatin, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan. The study, named PolyIran, was conducted by researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran.
“The poly pill uses a ‘shotgun’ approach to address cardiovascular disease risk factors. This study, and previous ones, show that a population-based approach can result in a significant reduction in both cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” DrNauman Mushtaq, medical director of cardiology at the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Central DuPage Hospital and Delnor Hospital in Illinois, told a news portal. Adding,“The magnitude of benefit from the polypill is directly related to the baseline risk of cardiovascular disease in the target population. An elderly, male, obese, sedentary, diabetic population with poor diet and high prevalence of smoking is the most likely to benefit."
6,800 people, who were 55 years or older, participated in the study. Close to half of the group were women. The results showed the risk of cardiovascular disease reduced by 40 per cent for those who had no history of heart disease. Meanwhile, the risk was reduced by 20 per cent for those with a history of cardiovascular issues.
“Use of the poly pill was effective in preventing major cardiovascular events. Medication adherence was high and adverse event numbers were low. The polypill strategy could be considered as an additional effective component in controlling cardiovascular diseases, especially in low or middle-income countries,” the authors of the study stated.
However, some experts worry about the side effects of the drugs in the pill. “Each of these drugs individually has side effects. For example, Atorvastatin has some liver side effects in people with underlying liver and muscle diseases,” Dr Tony S. Das, an interventional cardiologist at Texas Health Dallas and Texas Health Physicians Group, told a news portal. Adding,“Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic and could be an issue with people who may be dehydrated or have kidney disease,” Das told Healthline. “Valsartan and enalapril are ACE inhibitors which have potential issues with patients with kidney disease. Therefore, all of these drugs should include some form of periodic blood test monitoring if possible.”
More research is needed to fully determine if this pill is a safe treatment option. The study's findings were originally published in the journal The Lancet.
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