OBJECTIVES: Patient adherence to medication is vital to ensure the successful treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Polypills simplify medication taking and could improve medication adherence compared with free drug association therapy. This study provided the evidence for market access in Italy of fixed combination of Atorvastatin/perindopril/amlodipine (CTAPA). The objectives of the study were to determine how many patients are candidates for treatment with fixed CTAPA (being in treatment with free combination of the same active drugs according to Summary of Product Characteristics) and to estimate if there is an unmet medical need among patients in treatment with CTAPA as free combination.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted based on administrative databases of 3 Italian Local Health Units. Patients were included if they had at least one prescription of amlodipine and perindopril (either in free combination or in single pill combination) and atorvastatin during 2014. The first date at which the prescriptions of the 3 study molecules were identified during the study period was defined as index-date. Adherence to CTAPA was evaluated in the 12 months following the date of inclusion.

RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Real-world analysis among patients in free combination appears to be a useful tool to estimate the potential eligible population to polypill and also the appropriateness of their prescriptions. Given the observed low adherence to free-combination CTAPA, the use of polypill could provide an opportunity to improve adherence.