SINGLE HEART PILL LIFESAVER
Blood pressure and cholesterol lowered in trial
AN all-in-one pill has been found to cut the risk of a heart attack or stroke by a quarter.
At the end of a 12-month trial in the US the “polypill” had lowered both high blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol in patients.
Doctors believe the pill is more likely to be taken than separate pills and it could prove a boon to the UK.
High blood pressure affects more than a third of adults in Britain, a total of more than 12 million people.
It is a serious risk factor for conditions including stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.
An estimated six in 10 adults have raised or abnormal cholesterol, with many given statins to control levels.
In the UK there are almost 1.5 million devastating cardiovascular disease events yearly. The trial of 300 adults in Alabama is one of the first to test how effective a new drug could be to treat poorer communities, where keeping up treatment can be harder.
Study lead author
Dr Daniel Muoz, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, said: “Patients seeking care at community health centres have traditionally been under-represented in clinical trials. “We need to better understand what works in these settings so we can improve outcomes for citizens who may be the most vulnerable.” The study’s findings are in the New England Journal of Medicine. ■ Facebook and Instagram have vowed to remove bogus articles promoting “miracle” cures. NHS England chief Simon Stevens welcomed the move.