title: Prevalence of inappropriate use of digoxin in 136 patients on digoxin and prevalence of use of warfarin or aspirin in 89 patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Of 136 patients, mean age 72 years, receiving digoxin in the hospital or in the medical clinic, 47 (35%) had heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and symptoms despite optimal medical therapy, 82 (60%) had persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), and 7 (5%) had paroxysmal AF. The prevalence of inappropriate use of digoxin was 5%. Of 89 patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF, 70 (79%) were being treated with warfarin to maintain an International Normalized Ratio between 2.0 and 3.0, 15 (17%) were being treated with aspirin 325 mg daily, and 4 (4%) were not being treated with warfarin or aspirin. The prevalence of nonuse of warfarin or aspirin in patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF was 4%.
authors: Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Lleva
authors: Wilbert S
authors: WS
authors: Aronow
authors: Andrew H
authors: AH
authors: Gutwein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D004077:Digoxin; D001241:Aspirin