Tze-Fan Chao1, Chia-Jen Liu2, Su-Jung Chen3, Kang-Ling Wang1, Yenn-Jiang Lin1, Shih-Lin Chang1, Li-Wei Lo1, Yu-Feng Hu1, Ta-Chuan Tuan1, Tzeng-Ji Chen4, Chern-En Chiang5, Shih-Ann Chen6. 1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Public Health and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, I-Lan, Taiwan. 3. Institute of Public Health and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Su-Ao and Yuanshan Branch, I-Lan, Taiwan. 4. Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; General Clinical Research Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: cechiang@vghtpe.gov.tw. 6. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: epsachen@ms41.hinet.net.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Digoxin and related cardiac glycosides have been used for almost 100 years in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, 2 recent analyses of the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial showed inconsistent results regarding the risk of mortality associated with digoxin use. The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between digoxin and the risk of ischemic stroke and mortality in Asians. METHODS: This study used the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. A total of 4781 patients with AF who did not receive any antithrombotic therapy were selected as the study population. Among the study population, 829 participants (17.3%) received the digoxin treatment. The risk of ischemic stroke and mortality in patients who received digoxin and those who did not was compared. RESULTS: The use of digoxin was associated with an increased risk of clinical events, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.70) for ischemic stroke and 1.21 (95% CI, 1.01-1.44) for all-cause mortality. In the subgroup analysis based on coexistence with heart failure or not, digoxin was a risk factor for adverse events in patients without heart failure but not in those with heart failure (interaction P < 0.001 for either end point). Among patients with AF without heart failure, the use of β-blockers was associated with better survival, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.48 (95% CI, 0.34-0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Digoxin should be avoided for patients with AF without heart failure because it was associated with an increased risk of clinical events. β-Blockers may be a better choice for controlling ventricular rate in these patients.
BACKGROUND:Digoxin and related cardiac glycosides have been used for almost 100 years in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, 2 recent analyses of the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial showed inconsistent results regarding the risk of mortality associated with digoxin use. The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between digoxin and the risk of ischemic stroke and mortality in Asians. METHODS: This study used the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. A total of 4781 patients with AF who did not receive any antithrombotic therapy were selected as the study population. Among the study population, 829 participants (17.3%) received the digoxin treatment. The risk of ischemic stroke and mortality in patients who received digoxin and those who did not was compared. RESULTS: The use of digoxin was associated with an increased risk of clinical events, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.70) for ischemic stroke and 1.21 (95% CI, 1.01-1.44) for all-cause mortality. In the subgroup analysis based on coexistence with heart failure or not, digoxin was a risk factor for adverse events in patients without heart failure but not in those with heart failure (interaction P < 0.001 for either end point). Among patients with AF without heart failure, the use of β-blockers was associated with better survival, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.48 (95% CI, 0.34-0.68). CONCLUSIONS:Digoxin should be avoided for patients with AF without heart failure because it was associated with an increased risk of clinical events. β-Blockers may be a better choice for controlling ventricular rate in these patients.
Authors: Surbhi Chamaria; Anand M Desai; Pratap C Reddy; Brian Olshansky; Paari Dominic Journal: Cardiol Res Pract Date: 2015-12-14 Impact factor: 1.866
Authors: Oliver J Ziff; Deirdre A Lane; Monica Samra; Michael Griffith; Paulus Kirchhof; Gregory Y H Lip; Richard P Steeds; Jonathan Townend; Dipak Kotecha Journal: BMJ Date: 2015-08-30