The present systematic review and meta- analysis of all available data sources suggest that digoxin use is associated with an increased mortality risk , particularly among patients suffering from AF
There are conflicting data regarding the effect of digoxin use on mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) or with congestive heart failure ( CHF ) .
The aim of this meta- analysis was to provide detailed analysis of the currently available study reports .
Relation of digoxin use in atrial fibrillation and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients ≥65 years of age with versus without heart failure.
Previous studies on digoxin use in patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and the risk of all-cause mortality  found conflicting results . We conducted a population -based , retrospective , cohort study of patients aged ≥65 years admitted to a hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AF , in Quebec province , Canada , from 1998 to 2012 . The AF cohort was grouped into patients with and without heart failure ( HF ) and into  digoxin and no-digoxin users according to the first prescription filled for digoxin within 30 days after AF hospital discharge . We derived propensity score-matched digoxin and no-digoxin treatment groups for the groups of patients with and without HF , respectively , and conducted multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to determine association between digoxin use and all-cause mortality . The AF propensity score-matched cohorts of patients with and without HF were well balanced on baseline characteristics . In the propensity score-matched HF group , digoxin use was associated with a 14 % greater risk of all-cause mortality ( adjusted hazard ratio 1.14 , 95 % confidence interval 1.10 to 1.17 ) . In the propensity score-matched no-HF group , digoxin use was associated with a 17 % greater risk of all-cause mortality ( adjusted hazard ratio 1.17 , 95 % confidence interval 1.14 to 1.19 ) . In conclusion , our retrospective analyses found that digoxin use was associated with a greater risk for all-cause mortality in patients aged ≥65 years with AF regardless of concomitant HF . Large , multicenter , r and omized controlled trials or prospect i ve cohort studies are required to clarify this issue
The present systematic review and meta- analysis of all available data sources suggest that digoxin use is associated with an increased mortality risk , particularly among patients suffering from AF
There are conflicting data regarding the effect of digoxin use on mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) or with congestive heart failure ( CHF ) .
The aim of this meta- analysis was to provide detailed analysis of the currently available study reports .