Sydney, May 7 (IANS): A 'super pill' containing a combination of commonly-used blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications has been developed which, scientists claim, can prevent heart attacks and strokes globally.
According to researchers at the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, the cheap 'polypill' - to be taken once a day - also has aspirin and all of these medications help to prevent cardiovascular disease.
The 'polypill' has been developed as part of the international collaboration 'Single Pill to Avert Cardiovascular Events' (SPACE) led by researchers from the George Institute for Global Health, Australia.
In this project, scientists analysed data from 3,140 patients with established cardiovascular disease or at high risk of the illness in India, Europe and Australasia, media reports said.
The results showed a 43 percent increase in patient adherence to medication after 12 months with the polypill, in addition to improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
“These results are an important step forward in the polypill journey and management of cardiovascular disease across the globe,” Ruth Webster from George Institute for Global Health was quoted as saying.
According to scientists, the 'polypill' is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.