Polypill, hypertension and medication adherence: The solution strategy?

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is an important global health challenge and a leading preventable risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide. In current cardiology practice, the main obstacles in the management of patients affected by hypertension are comorbidities and poor adherence to pharmacological treatments. The World Health Organization has recently highlighted increased adherence as a key development need for reducing cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Principal observational and clinical trial data regarding adherence, reductions in cardiovascular risk and safety of the polypill approach are summarized and reviewed.

Conclusions: The polypill approach has been conclusively shown to increase adherence relative to usual care in all cardiovascular patients, furthermore, concomitant risk factor reductions have also been suggested. To date, the use of polypill could represent a solution strategy in patients affected by hypertension, comorbidities and non-adherence even though further studies, especially in the real-world settings, are needed in order to better understand its role in clinical practice.

Keywords: Adherence; Cardiovascular events; Hypertension; LDL-cholesterol; Polypill; Systolic blood pressure.