The need for reassessment of digoxin prescribing for the elderly.

1. The prevalence and circumstance of digoxin prescribing was assessed in five private nursing homes. 2. Forty-one patients (21% residents) were taking digoxin. 3. Seventeen patients were in atrial fibrillation and the remainder in sinus rhythm. The ventricular rate exceeded 100 beats min-1 in eight of the 17 patients in atrial fibrillation. 4. Thirty-seven patients were prescribed 0.0625 mg digoxin daily and serum digoxin concentrations were subtherapeutic in 20 of 32 patients in whom concentrations were measured. 5. These data indicate a need for more careful review of the need for maintenance digoxin and illustrate the inappropriateness of routinely prescribing very low doses in all elderly patients.