WSC 2022 | An individualized approach vs the polypill for primary and secondary stroke prevention

Valery Feigin, MD, PhD, FRSNZ, FRAS, FAAN, AUT’s National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience (NISAN), discusses the benefits and limitations of the polypill compared to an individualized approach when it comes to primary and secondary stroke prevention. The polypill contains several medications within one pill that focuses on lowering blood pressure and elevated lipids. There have been a number of randomized controlled trials evaluating the polypill and a further meta-analysis published last year that showed strong evidence for the polypill as an effective preventative measure for stroke and cardiovascular disease. However, there are several limitations to these recent trials concerning the age and risk level of the subjects that participated, hindering the generalizability of their findings. Improving lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and smoking combined with the polypill may therefore provide a more holistic approach to stroke prevention, particularly in low-income countries. This interview took place at the World Stroke Congress 2022 in Singapore.

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