Table 1 Effects of the Polypill on the risks of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke after two years of treatment at age 55-64


% reduction in risk (95% CI)*

Risk factor

Agent

Reduction in risk factor

IHD event

Stroke

Source of evidence

LDL cholesterol

Statin{dagger}

1.8 mmol/l (70 mg/dl) reduction in LDL cholesterol

61 (51 to 71)

17 (9 to 25)

Law et al1

Blood pressure

Three classes of drug at half standard dose

11 mm Hg diastolic

46 (39 to 53)

63 (55 to 70)

Law et al16

Serum homocysteine

Folic acid (0.8 mg/day)

3 µmol/l

16 (11 to 20)

24 (15 to 33)

Wald et al9

Platelet function

Aspirin (75 mg/day)

Not quantified

32 (23 to 40)

16 (7 to 25)

Table A on bmj.com

Combined effect

All



88 (84 to 91)

80 (71 to 87)



LDL=low density lipoprotein.

* 95% confidence intervals include imprecision of the estimates of both the agent reducing the risk factor and the risk factor reduction decreasing risk.

{dagger} Atorvastatin 10 mg/day, or simvastatin or lovastatin 40 mg/day taken in the evening or 80 mg/day taken in the morning.