A new daily blood pressure pill could significantly reduce the risk of stroke in people who have previously experienced a cerebral hemorrhage, according to a large scientific study.
Researchers found that the treatment reduced the chance of a second stroke by up to 40% in high-risk patients who had had a brain hemorrhage – a condition when a blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain.
The tablet, called GMRx2, combines three known blood pressure-lowering medications into a single pill, making it easier for patients to follow treatment and keep their blood pressure under control.
Experts consider this development an important step in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, which constitute one of the leading causes of death in the world. Previous studies have shown that combining drugs in a single pill significantly increases patient adherence to treatment, avoiding forgetting doses.
The latest study, called TRIDENT and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, included 1,670 patients who had experienced intracerebral hemorrhage and suffered from high blood pressure.
Half of the participants took the GMRx2 pill, while the rest were treated with standard therapy and a placebo. After three years, just over 4% of patients who took the new pill had another stroke, compared with 7% in the other group – a risk reduction of about 39%.
Also, patients who used this combination were about a third less likely to experience serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or death from heart disease.
Experts emphasize that controlling blood pressure is the most important factor in preventing strokes, as high blood pressure damages blood vessels and increases the risk of them becoming blocked or ruptured.
Lifestyle changes – such as physical activity, weight loss, alcohol restriction and salt reduction – remain essential, but many patients also need drug treatment.
Researchers hope that this new pill will soon be approved by regulatory authorities, becoming an important option for patients recovering from stroke and helping to save thousands of lives. /GazetaExpress/
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