Evidence mapPaperPMID 38265377Full record

SynthesisCurrent cardiology reviews2024

The Impact of Polypill on Adherence and Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Comprehensive Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Hamza Salim, Basel Musmar, Motaz Saifi, Mohammed Ayyad, Mohammed Ruzieh, Jehad Azar, Zaher Nazzal

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current cardiology reviews, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Polypill Strategy: A Paradigm Shift in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions · 2025
    Article
  3. Observational
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hamza SalimDepartment of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.ORCID 0000-0002-5208-8425
Basel MusmarDepartment of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Motaz SaifiDepartment of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Mohammed AyyadDepartment of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Mohammed RuziehDepartment of Cardiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Jehad AzarDepartment of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Zaher NazzalDepartment of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Polypills, containing various combinations of medications for primary and secondary CVD prevention, have been developed to enhance medication adherence and reduce the healthcare burden of CVD. However, their effectiveness compared to usual care remains uncertain.

objectiveThis meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of polypills on cardiovascular risk factors, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and medication adherence.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search for large-scale randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing the effects of polypills versus usual care on CVD risk factors and events. Outcomes included changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), lipid profiles, occurrence of MACE, and medication adherence.

resultsThe use of polypills led to a statistically significant yet clinically modest reduction in SBP (mean difference -1.47 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.50 to -0.44, p<0.01) and DBP (mean difference- 1.10 mmHg, 95% CI: -1.68 to -0.51, p< 0.01) compared to usual care. Polypills also showed a significant reduction in the risk of MACE (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77 -0.95, p<0.01). There was a non-significant reduction in LDL and HDL levels. Adherence to medication improved by up to 17% in polypill users compared to those on usual care (p < 0.01). A multivariable metaregression analysis suggested that adherence may be the underlying factor responsible for the observed effect of the polypills on blood pressure.

conclusionPolypills were found to significantly reduce SBP, DBP and MACE. An improvement in medication adherence was also observed among polypill users, which might be responsible for the significant reduction in SBP observed users. Future research might benefit from exploring a more personalized approach to the composition of polypills, which could reveal a more clinically significant impact of increased adherence on CVD outcomes.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesDrug MonitoringBlood PressureCardiovascular AgentsDrug CombinationsHumansPrimary PreventionCardiovascular AgentsDrug Combinationscardiovascularcardiovascular diseaseCVD risk factor.diastolic blood pressurehypertensionPolypill

Identifiers

PMID38265377
PMCPMC11107474

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.