Digoxin increases dangerous arrhythmias in the hearts of patients with Implantable Defibrillators

What is it about?

Past studies have shown that the use of the medicine digoxin in patients with heart failure has been associated with decreased long term survival although a reason for this was not known. We hypothesized that digoxin may be playing a role in increasing dangerous arrhythmias in the heart. We analyzed the medical records of patients who had implantable cardiac defibrillators that can store heart rhythm disturbances. In this population, we found that patients who were on Digoxin at any point during the one year study period had increased shocks from the defibrillator due to various arrhythmias arising from the atria (top chambers of the heart) or ventricle (bottom chambers of the heart). In addition patients on digoxin also had recurrent dangerous heart rhythm disturbances arising from the ventricles.

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Why is it important?

Further studies are needed to assess the risk of arrhythmias in patients on Digoxin. As there are other potent medicines to treat heart failure, Digoxin, if proven to increase shock events, may be limited to a certain low risk population.

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