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NEUES
AUS DER MEDIZIN
Polypill/Multipill:
Durch die in einer Tablette kombinierte Gabe eines
Statins, dreier unterschiedlicher Antihypertonika (in
halber Standarddosierung), von Folsäure und Aspirin könnte
die Häufigkeit von Herzinfarkten und Schlaganfällen um
rund 80% gesenkt werden.

BMJ 2003;326:1419 (28 June)
A strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease by more than
80%
N J Wald, professor1, M R Law, professor1
1 Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine,
Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the
London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry,
University of London, London EC1M 6BQ
Correspondence to: N J Wald n.j.wald@qmul.ac.uk
Objectives To determine the combination of drugs
and vitamins, and their doses, for use in a single daily
pill to achieve a large effect in preventing cardiovascular
disease with minimal adverse effects. The strategy was
to simultaneously reduce four cardiovascular risk factors
(low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure,
serum homocysteine, and platelet function) regardless
of pretreatment levels.
Design We quantified the efficacy and adverse effects
of the proposed formulation from published meta-analyses
of randomised trials and cohort studies and a meta-analysis
of 15 trials of low dose (50-125 mg/day) aspirin.
Outcome measures Proportional reduction in ischaemic heart
disease (IHD) events and strokes; life years gained; and
prevalence of adverse effects.
Results The formulation which met our objectives
was: a statin (for example, atorvastatin (daily dose 10
mg) or simvastatin (40 mg)); three blood pressure lowering
drugs (for example, a thiazide, a {beta} blocker, and
an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor), each at half
standard dose; folic acid (0.8 mg); and aspirin (75 mg).
We estimate that the combination (which we call the Polypill)
reduces IHD events by 88% (95%
confidence interval 84% to 91%) and stroke
by 80% (71% to 87%). One third of people taking
this pill from age 55 would benefit, gaining
on average about 11 years of life free from an IHD event
or stroke. Summing the adverse effects of the components
observed in randomised trials shows that the Polypill
would cause symptoms in 8-15% of people (depending on
the precise formulation).
Conclusion The Polypill strategy
could largely prevent heart attacks and stroke if taken
by everyone aged 55 and older and everyone with existing
cardiovascular disease. It would be acceptably
safe and with widespread use would have a greater impact
on the prevention of disease in the Western world than
any other single intervention.
Full Text
Editorial I
Editorial II
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