[Combinationpills for cardiovascular disease: the missing piece of evidence?]

In the literature the terms fixed dose combination (FDC) or single pill combination (SPC) emerged as synonyms for the combinationpill. Studies consistently indicated that a cardiovascular FDC increases medication adherence and improves blood and lipid levels. TIPS-3 recently added evidence by showing that a cardiovascular FDC reduces events compared to non-pharmacological treatment. Do we now have all the evidence for widespread implementation of FDC? Some feel the need for direct comparisons between FDC and the use of separate pills with the same FDC components. That will probably never happen. So the best way forward is that, when indicated, physicians put patients on cardiovascular preventive medication, and when stable and adequately controlled, discusses with the patient about the possibilities for an FDC. This will not be applicable to all patients, but likely a large percentage. Please note 94% of vascular patients very much prefers an FDC above separate individual pills.