Digoxin doubles mortality among AF patients
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. In my first book, Lone Atrial Fibrillation: Towards A Cure written 10 years ago, I made the following statement, "Digoxin may truly be the medicine from hell and it certainly should never be used by people with atrial fibrillation." This conclusion was based on research published by arrhythmia experts such as Pr. Philippe Coumel, MD (1994), Dr. Rodney Falk, MD (1997), and Dr. Christian Sticherling (2000). Yet, despite these warnings, prescriptions for digoxin continued to flow unabated with over 60% of participants in the 2002 AFFIRM trial having been prescribed the drug.
Now, 10 years later, cardiologists at Kaiser Permanente report that afibbers prescribed digoxin are twice as likely to die within the first year after diagnosis than are afibbers not prescribed digoxin. Their study involved 23,272 newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, 12.9% of whom were prescribed digoxin between January 2006 and June 2009. None of the patients had heart failure (the usual indication for prescribing digoxin). During a 10-month follow-up, 9.5% of patients prescribed digoxin died as compared to 4.3% among non-users. After adjusting for age, race, income, laboratory parameters, prior cardiovascular disease and associated medical procedures, hypertension, cholesterol level, cancer, lung disease, and use of other cardiovascular medications, the researchers conclude that digoxin is associated with a doubling of mortality among AF patients.
In an interview with Cardiology News Dr. James Freeman, the lead author said, "This is a very big deal. We will tell Kaiser physicians not to prescribe digoxin to patients with atrial fibrillation".
Freeman, JV, et al. Digoxin and risk of death in adults with atrial fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Vol. 61, No. 10, March 12, 2013, E262
Editor's comment: This latest warning against prescribing digoxin for AF patients confirms that of an earlier warning issued by Swedish physicians in 2007 who found that otherwise healthy afibbers were twice as likely to die within a year following diagnosis if prescribed digoxin.
In April 2009 I published an updated report on digoxin. By this time it was clear that digoxin:
Now, 10 years later, cardiologists at Kaiser Permanente report that afibbers prescribed digoxin are twice as likely to die within the first year after diagnosis than are afibbers not prescribed digoxin. Their study involved 23,272 newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, 12.9% of whom were prescribed digoxin between January 2006 and June 2009. None of the patients had heart failure (the usual indication for prescribing digoxin). During a 10-month follow-up, 9.5% of patients prescribed digoxin died as compared to 4.3% among non-users. After adjusting for age, race, income, laboratory parameters, prior cardiovascular disease and associated medical procedures, hypertension, cholesterol level, cancer, lung disease, and use of other cardiovascular medications, the researchers conclude that digoxin is associated with a doubling of mortality among AF patients.
In an interview with Cardiology News Dr. James Freeman, the lead author said, "This is a very big deal. We will tell Kaiser physicians not to prescribe digoxin to patients with atrial fibrillation".
Freeman, JV, et al. Digoxin and risk of death in adults with atrial fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Vol. 61, No. 10, March 12, 2013, E262
Editor's comment: This latest warning against prescribing digoxin for AF patients confirms that of an earlier warning issued by Swedish physicians in 2007 who found that otherwise healthy afibbers were twice as likely to die within a year following diagnosis if prescribed digoxin.
In April 2009 I published an updated report on digoxin. By this time it was clear that digoxin:
- does not reduce the risk of death from heart failure;
- is associated with a large number of hospital admissions related to digoxin toxicity;
- can cause visual problems, serious skin rashes, and may significantly aggravate asthma;
- increases the risk of invasive breast cancer;
- may cause sinus bradycardia, heart block, and ventricular arrhythmias;
- does not convert AF to normal sinus rhythm;
- does not prevent future AF episodes;
- promotes early recurrence of AF episodes after cardioversion;
- prolongs the duration of AF episodes and may convert paroxysmal to permanent AF.
The AFIB Report, Forum and Database do not provide medical advice. Do not attempt self-diagnosis or self-treatment based on our reports.
Donate Today!
Please donate to The AFIB Report, using one of the two buttons below.
A third donation method, beyond choosing either the Donate with PayPal or Donate with Credit/Debit card described elsewhere on this site, is for those who prefer to directly mail a check or money order to our business address at: The AFIB Report, A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation, C/O Shannon Dickson, P.O. Box 1016, Sedona, Arizona 86339. Any of the three donation options are fine with us based on each donor's preference, and with our sincere gratitude!
A third donation method, beyond choosing either the Donate with PayPal or Donate with Credit/Debit card described elsewhere on this site, is for those who prefer to directly mail a check or money order to our business address at: The AFIB Report, A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation, C/O Shannon Dickson, P.O. Box 1016, Sedona, Arizona 86339. Any of the three donation options are fine with us based on each donor's preference, and with our sincere gratitude!
The AFIB Report, A Non-Profit Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Corporation
Learn