Starting the polypill: the use of a single age cut-off in males and females

OBJECTIVE: Age screening and preventive medication for future myocardial infarction and stroke has been previously described. We aimed to ascertain whether different age cut-offs are needed for males and females. METHODS: We determined five parameters for each sex according to age cut-off: detection rate (sensitivity), false-positive rate, proportion of the population eligible for treatment with a polypill, proportion who benefit from taking a polypill (simvastatin 20 mg, losartan 25 mg, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, amlodipine 2.5 mg), and among these, years of life gained without a first myocardial infarction or stroke. RESULTS: Approximately one-third benefit, regardless of the age cut-off. For males and females combined, using ages 40 and 80, the detection rates are 98% and 52%, false-positive rates are 51% and 7%, population percentages eligible for treatment are 52% and 7%, and years of life gained without a first myocardial infarction or stroke are 8.4 and 3.6. Using age 50, detection rates are 93% (males) 98% (females), false-positive rates 37% (males) 40% (females), percentage of the population eligible for treatment 38% (males) 41% (females), percentage who benefit 35% (males) 33% (females), and years of life gained without an event 8.5 (males) 7.0 (females). At a given age cut-off, the sex differences are relatively small. CONCLUSION: A single age cut-off can be used for both sexes.