In a recent study from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, scientists found a cheap drug combo of four common drugs could help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.
The drug combo includes two blood pressure drugs, one cholesterol medicine, and one aspirin.
Many people can’t afford or don’t stick with taking so many medicines separately, so doctors think a polypill might help.
Previous research has found that the treatment could help reduce blood cholesterol and blood pressure.
In this study, the team examined the effects of the drug combo on the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and other problems.
They tested about 6,800 people in Iran, aged 50-75. Some with previous heart problems and others without them.
All the people got advice on healthy lifestyles and half of them also were given the drug combo.
The drug combo contained hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, aspirin 81 mg, atorvastatin 20 mg, and enalapril 5 mg.
The team found after five years, 6% of those in the drug combo group had suffered a heart attack, stroke or heart failure versus 9% of the people who did not use the treatment.
This means a 34% lower risk with the drug combo, and a 22% lower risk after the researchers removed the effects of other heart drugs that participants were taking.
Moreover, people who took the drug combo faithfully had at least a 70% lower risk of heart risk.
The team says that the benefit mostly comes from lowering cholesterol and the blood pressure didn’t change much.
They hope the drug combo could be an effective way to prevent heart disease in developing countries. But the benefits may be minimal for people who already have access to good health care.
The research was published in Lancet and conducted by Prof Reza Malekzadeh et al.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about chronic itch linked to heart disease, and drinking coffee this way may prevent heart disease and stroke.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how magnesium helps protect your heart rhythm, and results showing the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease.
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