Media release from the University of Auckland

A new polypill trial has been launched at The University of Auckland.

The polypill is an idea which was floated in 2003 to help high risk patients to reduce their chance of heart attack or stroke using one capsule per day instead of multiple medications.

While an initial study focussed on medium-risk patients, the University is now looking to trial a polypill capsule on around 600 people who are at high risk of heart attack or stroke.

The randomised controlled trial aims to find out whether a polypill taken once a day compared with continuing usual care improves adherence and outcomes in high-risk patients.

The study will also assess whether results are similar for Māori and non-Māori.

Cardiovascular disease is New Zealand's biggest killer, Māori are disproportionately affected and cardiovascular disease is the main reason for the increasing difference in life expectancy between Māori and non-Māori.

New Zealand cardiovascular guidelines recommend that if someone has had a heart attack or stroke, or if they are at high-risk of having a heart attack or stroke, they should be offered "triple therapy" to reduce their risk. However, multiple medications are difficult to take, so most high-risk patients are either not prescribed all these medications or they find them difficult and expensive to take.

Less than 50 percent of New Zealanders who have already had a heart attack or stroke are on triple-therapy and only 10-30 percent of people who fall into the high-risk category are on it.

This new study is an "open label" trial so people will know if they are taking the polypill or their usual medications. Six hundred participants (including 300 Māori) at high risk of cardiovascular disease will be invited to register through their GPs.

Participants will be randomised to a polypill called the "Red Heart Pill" (containing low dose aspirin, a cholesterol lowering medication and two low-dose blood pressure lowering medicines) or to usual care (cardiovascular medication as prescribed by their general practitioner) and followed for one year.

The results of the New Zealand trial will be combined with trials in Australia, England, Ireland, India and the Netherlands to see if, overall, the number of heart attacks and strokes are reduced.

Participants are already being enrolled through general practices around Auckland.