Heart-Failure Polypill Improves Compliance, Ejection Fraction
A single capsule containing three medications improved compliance and made patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction feel better, researchers reported at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2025 Scientific Sessions. Fewer than half of heart-failure patients take all recommended medications. Doctors in Texas wondered if taking fewer pills would increase compliance. They put three guideline-recommended medications—a beta-blocker, mineralocorticoid antagonist and SGLT2 inhibitor—into a capsule and gave it to half of a group of 212 heart failure patients. The other half were given individual bottles of the same medications. Both groups took a renin-angiotensin blocker separately. Blood tests given at six months confirmed that 79.3% of the polypill group had adhered to their medical regimen, compared with 54.3% of the control group. While left-ventricular ejection fraction increased in both groups, it rose a significant 3.4% in those taking the polypill. Moreover, heart failure hospitalizations, emergency visits and deaths decreased by 60% and quality of life improved a significant 8.5 points over the control group.
