A new polypill combining three essential treatments for heart failure has shown promising results. In the POLY-HF trial, patients adhered to their treatment better and were hospitalized less often.
Heart failure affects around 1.5 million people in France and particularly affects those over 60. Faced with the difficulty of taking several medications every day, a simpler solution could change patients’ daily lives.
A single dose for more effective treatment
This chronic disease occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood. Unusual shortness of breath, persistent fatigue, swollen legs or rapid weight gain linked to water retention are warning signs that should not be ignored.
In the POLY-HF clinical trial, published in Nature Medicine and conducted by Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, 212 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were followed for six months. Participants receiving a daily polypill of three recommended medications had an additional 3.3 points of improvement in heart function compared to patients taking separate tablets.
Fewer hospitalizations thanks to better compliance
The simplification of treatment seems to have promoted better adherence: 79% of patients on polypill followed their treatment correctly, compared to 54% in the group receiving several tablets.
The benefits translated concretely into a 60% reduction in the risk of hospitalization or emergency room visits for heart failure, as well as fewer serious adverse effects. For Dr Ambarish Pandey, lead author of the study, this strategy represents a realistic avenue to help patients maintain optimal treatment. Ultimately, a similar approach could also simplify the management of other chronic diseases requiring several daily medications.