Ventricular rate control in the elderly: is digoxin enough?
The ventricular response in untreated patients with atrial fibrillation often exceeds 120 beats/min at rest. Digoxin can slow this rate, but its efficacy during exertion may be limited. Alternatives, or additions, to digoxin therapy include the beta blockers and diltiazem or verapamil. This review discusses the role of digoxin in relation to these other drugs, with particular reference to the elderly population.
Falk
Rodney H
RH
Section of Cardiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. rfalk@bu.edu
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004077:Digoxin; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem