New Zealand research has demonstrated that a cardiovascular polypill can improve adherence to medicines proven to improve survival. Medicines are only effective if we take them although in New Zealand only a fraction of people that have suffered a cardiovascular event (heart attack or stroke) take the medicines proven to make them live longer. This study compared maori and non-maori patients in an effort to determine if a polypill can reduce gaps between the two groups.
Prior to study enrollment, the use of all recommended cardiovascular preventative medications (antiplatelet, statin and two antihypertensives) was 36% among Māori and 51% among non-Māori participants.
At 12 months, polypill-based care was associated with a significant increase in the use of recommended medications among both Māori and non-Māori compared with usual care.
Analysis showed that the polypill improvement was similar across both maori and non-maori.
New Zealand has a unique population mix and significant disparities in healthcare occur between ethnicities.
The cardiovascular polypill offers a means in which to address these disparities and improve the cardiovascular health of New Zealanders.
For more information please visit the Māori Health Review or Sage Journals.