byAmerican Heart Association

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Adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who took a "polypill" combining medications prescribed for the treatment of heart failure, had improved heart function and symptoms, better quality of life, fewer hospitalizations and greater medication adherence than those taking the medications individually, according to a late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association'sScientific Sessions 2025. The meeting, held Nov. 7–10 in New Orleans, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.

"In recent decades, there have been important, effective treatment advances for patients withheart failure, however, use of these treatments remains disappointingly low, with only 15% of patients receiving all guideline-recommended therapies at any dose for heart failure after hospitalization," said study author Ambarish Pandey, M.D., M.S., FAHA, an associate professor of internal medicine in the division of cardiology and geriatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and medical director of the center's heart failure with preservedejection fractionprogram.

"In our study, we focused on socially disadvantaged populations to demonstrate the positive impact of an easier-to-followmedicationregimen of only one pill vs. three pills daily, and we found significant improvements even after six months. Our findings provide the first evidence that a polypill approach could be effective for our patients with heart failure."

The trial included 212 adults with HFrEF who were not receiving guideline-recommended treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 108 participants were prescribed the polypill regimen, which included metoprolol succinate (a beta-blocker), spironolactone (a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) and empagliflozin (a SGLT2 inhibitor). The second group of 104 adults were assigned to enhanced standard care, taking guideline-recommended medications as individual pills. Everyone also took an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), sacubitril-valsartan, which is dosed twice-daily and not well suited for a once-daily polypill.

After six months, the study found:

The study group plans more research on how best to address heart failure in specific groups.

"Moving forward, we are planning additional studies to evaluate broader implementation of thepolypillapproach in heart failure," Pandey said.

Study details, background or design:

Provided by American Heart Association