ACE x HMG-CoA reductase x COX

The overall objective of the Stroke Minimization through Additive Anti-atherosclerotic Agents in Routine Treatment II (SMAART-II) is to deploy a hybrid study design to firstly, demonstrate the efficacy of a polypill (Polycap ®) containing fixed doses of antihypertensives, a statin, and antiplatelet therapy taken as two capsules, once daily orally in reducing composite vascular risk over 24 months vs. usual care among 500 recent stroke patients encountered at 12 hospitals in Ghana. Secondly, SMAART II seeks to develop an implementation strategy for routine integration and policy adoption of this polypill for post-stroke cardiovascular risk reduction in an under-resourced system burdened by suboptimal care and outcomes.

Heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) represents a significant public health burden in the United States, with a growing prevalence particularly among African Americans and Hispanic Americans and individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES). Although effective therapies exist, gaps in their uptake contribute substantially to the excess burden of heart failure. The "polypill" is an inexpensive once daily pill containing three agents proven to improve morbidity and mortality in heart failure and represents potential strategy for increasing the utilization of proven HF therapies. The proposed study is a pragmatic, single-center, randomized trial to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a polypill-based strategy for the treatment of HFrEF in a low-income, racially diverse population.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The most important aspect of CVD secondary prevention is adherence to guideline-indicated pharmacological therapy which globally remains low. In previous studies, a Polypill containing fixed dose combination of essential drugs have improved patient adherence to these drugs. The effect of such a strategy on pharmacological therapy uptake, cost-effectiveness, and CVD recurrence in our setting will be assessed in this study. Participants hospitalized in three referral hospitals in Isfahan, Iran because of an acute myocardial infarction (MI) (ST elevation MI (STEMI) or non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI)) will be randomized to either receiving Polypill or usual care after MI. Patient recruitment will be carried out at the time of patient discharge from the hospitals.