A polypill containing aspirin, ramipril and atorvastatin used in secondary prevention reduces the risk of a composite cardiovascular outcome
A polypill which contains aspirin, ramipril and atorvastatin given to patients who have experienced a previous myocardial infarction reduces the risk of a subsequent adverse cardiovascular outcome according to the findings of a randomised trial by the SECURE investigators.
Medication adherence is used to define the extent to which a patient takes medication as prescribed by their healthcare providers. Higher levels of adherence are associated with better treatment outcomes although poor adherence leads to considerable morbidity, mortality, and avoidable health care costs.
In a meta-analysis specifically focusing on cardiovascular medicine, only 60% of included participants had good adherence, i.e., ≥ 80%. However, the authors estimated that ∼9% of all cardiovascular disease (CVD) cases could be attributable to poor adherence.
In contrast, good adherence to cardiac therapies could be associated with a 20% lower risk of CVD and a 35% reduced risk of all-cause mortality, irrespective of most clinically relevant patient and study characteristics.
The use of a polypill is designed to simplify a medication regime and in a meta-analysis of three large trials, it was concluded that the fixed-dose combination (i.e., polypill) substantially reduced cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularisation, and cardiovascular death in primary cardiovascular disease prevention.
But it is less clear whether the polypill is an effective strategy for secondary prevention. As a result, researchers undertook the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly (SECURE) trial, which compared the efficacy of a polypill compared to usual care as a means of reducing major cardiovascular outcomes in older patients.
To be included in the trial, patients were required to have a history of a myocardial infarction within the previous six months and at least one risk factor such as diabetes, kidney dysfunction or prior stroke, although those receiving oral anticoagulation were excluded. Individuals were randomised 1:1 to the polypill which contained aspirin 100 mg, ramipril 2.5, 5 or 10 mg and atorvastatin 40 mg although the dose of statin could be reduced to 20 mg (using a similar lower dose polypill) based on blood test results and a patient’s history.
Treatment adherence was assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS), which ranges from 0 to 8 with higher scores reflecting better adherence. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal type 1 myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischaemic stroke or urgent coronary revascularisation.
A key secondary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal type 1 myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischaemic stroke.
Polypill and cardiovascular outcomes
A total of 2466 patients were randomised, 1237 with a mean age of 75.8 years (69% male) to the polypill and followed for a a median of 36 months.
The primary outcome occurred in 9.5% of those assigned to the polypill and 12.7% of those assigned to usual care (hazard ratio, HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.60 – 0.96, p = 0.02). The main secondary outcome also occurred in less patients taking the polypill (HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.54 – 0.90, P = 0.005).
After 24 months, 74.1% of those receiving the fixed-dose combination had a high level of adherence (MMAS score of 8) compared to 63.2% in the usual care group.
The authors concluded that the use of a cardiovascular polypill could serve as a substitute for separate drugs and decrease the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events.
Citation
Castellano JM et al. Polypill Strategy in Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention N Eng J Med 2022
