SPACE Collaboration
SPACE (Single Pill to Avert Cardiovascular Events) is a collaboration of studies assessing the role of a single combination pill (or ‘polypill’) in people who have had a heart attack, stroke or other reason to be at risk of cardiovascular disease.
SPACE Collaboration
SPACE (Single Pill to Avert Cardiovascular Events) is a collaboration of studies assessing the role of a single combination pill (or ‘polypill’) in people who have had a heart attack, stroke or other reason to be at risk of cardiovascular disease.
The polypill is a single tablet containing four different medicines: a cholesterol lowering medication, two blood pressure lowering medications and aspirin. These medicines are recommended long-term for the large majority of people who have had a heart attack or stroke. But currently most people do not benefit from these medicines long-term.
The aim of each trial is to see whether the polypill can provide worthwhile improvements in long-term treatment rates. The aim of the international collaboration of trials is to test this new therapy in different settings, as cardiovascular disease is now a leading cause of death in most countries globally.
Three trials are already underway and others are in the planning stage.
The UMPIRE (Use of a multidrug pill in reducing cardiovascular events) study will assess whether people prefer taking medication for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes as a single pill or in the usual style as several separate tablets and if this strategy improves clinical outcomes (the risk of having further cardiovascular events) among high-risk patients in Europe and India. UMPIRE is underway in Ireland, England, The Netherlands and India. Download the UMPIRE project information sheet.pdf. 
The Kanyini-GAP study aims to assess whether patients prescribed a polypill-based drug regime have improved adherence and clinical outcomes compared with those given usual cardiovascular medications. The Kanyini Vascular Collaboration is a large collaborative Indigenous health research program. The Kanyini-GAP (Guidelines Adherence with the Polypill Study) study is a key part of the collaboration and is currently underway in Australia. Download the Kanyini-GAP information sheet.pdf
The IMPACT(Improving adherence using combination therapy) study is underway in New Zealand and is aiming to assess whether patients who are taking a ‘polypill’ have better long-term adherence to their cardiovascular medications and reduce their risk of cardiovascular events (such as heart disease and stroke) compared to people who are taking their usual medications. The IMPACT study will be recruiting both Maori and non-Maori people.
For more information on SPACE, download the SPACE Collaboration information sheet.pdf , or contact:
Dr Ruth Webster
PO Box M201 | Camperdown NSW 2050 | AUSTRALIA
Ph: +61 2 9993 4557 Email: rwebster@george.org.au
