People who need to take drugs for their heart are much more likely to do so if these are combined into one pill, a new international trial involving Irish scientists has shown.

According to lead scientist, Dr Simon Thom, of Imperial College London, people who have previously suffered strokes or heart attacks, or those at high risk of heart-related problems, need to take drugs such as aspirin, statins (to lower cholesterol) and/or drugs to lower blood pressure.

"But the reality is that large numbers of people in this high-risk category get out of the habit of taking the recommended medications. This happens for a variety of reasons, some of which may be corrected by a single, simple fixed dose combination pill, known as a 'polypill'," he explained.

The study involved over 2,000 men and women in Europe and India. The average age of the participants was 62 and all already had heart disease.

Half were given a 'polypill' containing aspirin, a statin and two blood pressure lowering drugs. The other half took their drugs as usual. This involved taking multiple pills and doses. All were monitored for around 15 months.

According to lead Irish investigator, Prof Alice Stanton of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), only around half of people in high income countries, such as the US, typically take all the heart medicines they need. In low and middle income countries, this figure can fall as low as 5%.

"We deliberately chose two quite different settings - western Europe and India - with half the participants from each region, although the trial did include well treated populations in both locations. Seeing broadly similar findings in each region suggests generalisability," Prof Stanton commented.

Similar trials are now being carried out in New Zealand and Australia.

Details of these findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012.

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