Might a Polypill Strategy Improve Medication Adherence?

In a small study conducted in Europe and South America, it did — but the improvement was small.

Medication nonadherence is a common problem that negatively affects patient outcomes and increases costs of care. Six months after suffering a myocardial infarction (MI), patients have low rates of adherence to evidence-based therapies. It has been suggested that a polypill strategy might improve adherence by reducing pill burden and could thus improve cardiovascular outcomes.

In a recent randomized, controlled trial conducted in South America and Europe, investigators used both patient self-report and pill count to assess whether a polypill containing acetylsalicylic acid, simvastatin, and ramipril would increase adherence compared with the three drugs taken separately (NCT01321255). Participants were aged ≥40 and had a history of acute MI …

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Might a Polypill Strategy Improve Medication Adherence?

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Reviewing Author