Meta-analysis
Polypill-based strategy vs. usual care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors' conclusion
In patients with pre-existing CVD, a PBS is associated with lower cardiovascular mortality and improved therapeutic adherence, along with a modest decrease in SBP and LDL-C compared with usual care.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with prior CVD (secondary prevention)
- Participants
- 6,541 patients · 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Polypill-based strategy vs usual care
- Polypill-based strategy (PBS)n = 3,318
- Outcome
- Efficacy: therapeutic adherence, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and LDL-C
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Therapeutic adherence
Therapeutic adherence significantly increased with PBS vs usual care: RR 1.22 (95% CI 1.10-1.34)
P < 0.001
Further pooled results
| Outcome | RR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CV mortality | 0.61 (0.44–0.85) | P = 0.004 | |
| 0.512Relative risk (log scale) |
| Outcome | MD (mmHg) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBP | −1.47 (−2.86 to −0.09) | P = 0.04 | |
| −4−202Difference, mmHg (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (mg/dL) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDL-C | −3.83 (−6.99 to −0.67) | P = 0.02 | |
| −10−505Difference, mg/dL (linear scale) |
All-cause mortality
- Similar between groups: RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.54-1.29)
- P = 0.41
Original publication
Polypill-based strategy vs. usual care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 25 July 2023. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwad245
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it