Polypills Approach for Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The overall objective of the PACIF Trial is to test a fixed-dose combination strategy for the integrated management of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. This multicenter randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a polypill-based approach, compared with usual care, improves cardiovascular risk factor control and reduces cardiovascular disease events among adults with multiple cardiovascular risk factors but without prior cardiovascular disease. The trial will recruit an estimated 8,252 participants aged 50 to <75 years who have hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a fixed-dose combination strategy or usual care.

In the intervention group, the study medication regimen will consist of eight prespecified fixed-dose formulations combining blood pressure-lowering, lipid-lowering, and glucose-lowering therapies. These formulations include olmesartan medoxomil/amlodipine, rosuvastatin, ezetimibe, and dapagliflozin, with indapamide included in selected formulations. Treatment will be adjusted among the prespecified fixed-dose formulations according to participants' blood pressure levels, treatment targets, tolerability, and safety. Additional open-label medications may be used according to guideline recommendations and clinical judgment if the prespecified treatment targets are not achieved with the fixed-dose combination strategy. Treatment targets are defined as blood pressure <130/80 mmHg, LDL cholesterol <1.8 mmol/L, and HbA1c <7.0%.

The primary outcome at Phase 1 is the ACC/AHA 10-year cardiovascular disease risk estimated by the PREVENT equations. In addition, changes in PREVENT-estimated 10-year ASCVD and heart failure risk, the proportions of participants achieving the prespecified blood pressure, lipid, and glycemic targets, and changes in individual cardiovascular risk factors will also be evaluated.

The primary outcome at Phase 2 is a composite cardiovascular disease outcome including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, heart failure requiring hospitalization or treatment, and coronary revascularization. Cognitive outcomes will also be assessed, with incident all-cause dementia prespecified as a major secondary outcome.

Inclusion criteria

• Men or women
• Age ≥50 years and <75 years
• Systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg
• LDL-C ≥1.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dL)
• Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c ≥6.5% and <12%
• Willing to participate and able to sign informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Known secondary cause of hypertension
• Type 1 diabetes
• Pancreatic insufficiency or diabetes secondary to pancreatitis
• Triglycerides ≥5.65 mmol/L (500 mg/dL)
• History of myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure
• History of coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral arterial revascularization
• Abnormal kidney function, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m² or dialysis
• Abnormal liver function, defined as alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase >3 times the upper limit of normal
• Abnormal serum potassium, defined as serum potassium >5.5 mmol/L or <3.5 mmol/L
• Contraindication to any of the components of the polypill
• Currently living with another PACIF participant
• Pregnancy, currently trying to become pregnant, or of child-bearing potential and not using birth control
• Clinical diagnosis of dementia or treatment with medications for dementia
• History of malignancy
• Life expectancy <3 years
• Currently participating in another intervention study
• Any factors judged by the clinic team to be likely to limit adherence to interventions