The polypill concept is a single daily tablet that contains a combination of medications routinely used in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since the term polypill was first coined in 2003 by Wald and Law, the idea has received intermittent fame and unrealised potential. Publication of favourable trial results in 2012 led to a resurgence of media interest in the UK, with news headlines claiming that the polypill could save thousands of lives (Gallagher, 2012). Although the polypill itself is still a concept formulated purely for research trials, adults in the UK without cardiovascular risk factors may purchase the component medications online. Therefore, GPs should have knowledge of the polypill, not just for its possible future public health use but because their patients may already be taking it.
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