Heart problems: a pill that could solve many complications

People with heart problems may well be greatly relieved in the coming years, according to a study published on August 23 in the medical journal The Lancet.

A most powerful pill

For the moment nicknamed “polypill,” this new drug would actually be a four-in-one combination of aspirin, statin and two other drugs. According to the study, it would be able to reduce no less than one third of the risk of major cardiovascular events of any kind in five years in older people.

Indeed, the different components of this pill would make it possible to bring several positive effects to the heart at the same time. Aspirin, as we know, makes it possible to fluidize the blood, which can then circulate more easily. The statin, on the other hand, helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. The other two drugs used in the manufacture of the polypill are used to lower blood pressure.

A conclusive study

The study that confirmed the positive effects of this new pill took place in Iran, with nearly 7,000 participants from a rural population aged between 50 and 75 years and living in more than 100 different villages. Ninety percent of the participants, almost half of whom were women, had no history of cardiovascular disease.

Participants were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving lifestyle tips such as quitting smoking and physical activity, while the other, in addition to these tips, received the polypill.

Participants who received the pill in addition to counseling saw their risk of having a major stroke reduced by 34%, compared to 40% for those with a history of cardiovascular disease. Participants already suffering from this type of disease saw their risks drop by 20%.

Better heart health

The above percentages have decreased slightly with some adjustments, but overall, this new drug would have significantly reduced bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure problems. As Dr. Nizal Sarrafzadegan of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran points out, “Polypill is affordable, and the potential impact on cardiovascular health and the fight against the leading cause of death in the world is therefore considerable.”

Cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death in the world

Each year, 18 million people die from cardiovascular disease, most of them living in low- and middle-income countries. A multifunctional pill that would be cheaper would therefore be extremely beneficial in this case. Dr. Nizal Sarrafzadegan says that “if widely adopted, [this pill] could play a key role in achieving the United Nations’ ambitious goal of reducing premature mortality from cardiovascular disease by at least one third by 2030.”