The middle-aged and older American: Wrong prototype for a preventive polypill?

Researchers have proposed that physicians should advise all of their patients over age 55 to take a polypill containing treatments for many cardiovascular risk factors rather than testing them for risk factors and treating selectively. In this issue, Vasan and colleagues describe the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the United States. This evidence, along with other data, suggests that a preventive polypill is the wrong approach for this population. © 2005 American College of Physicians.