Single pill could reduce risk of cardiovascular disease by over 80%

A combination pill containing six different drugs could reduce mortality from strokes and myocardial infarctions by 88%, according to a recent study in the BMJ (2003;326:1419-22). Dubbed the “polypill,” it would be intended as a preventive measure and be taken once daily by everyone over 55 years of age and younger people with a clinical history of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers, Nicholas Wald and Malcolm Law, from Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, performed a series of meta-analyses of existing data on the …