Effect of digitalis level on readmission and mortality rate among heart failure reduced ejection fraction patients

Digitalis has been used for over 200 years to treat patients with heart failure, and evidence supports its use to improve clinical symptoms and quality of life, but not survival. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of digitalis on readmission and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who were receiving current guideline recommended medical therapy.

We reviewed medical record data from a retrospective cohort study of 1047 patients admitted to the hospital from 2005 to 2014 with decompensated HFrEF. 244 received digitalis, at some point during patient trajectory, and 803 never received digitalis. The primary outcomes of interest were the length of stay in hospital, readmission rates after discharge at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months and the overall mortality rate, at the same time points.

We studied the effects of digitalis after adjusting for age, sex, race, potentially confounding comorbidities, and prescription medications. Digitalis treatment is associated with decreases in EF in patients with HFrEF (OR = -2.83, P < 0.001) and was associated with an increased readmission rate for any reason after discharge from the hospital at 6, 12, and 24 months, 53%, 34%, and 35%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between patients who received digitalis and those who did not (referent group) for the length of hospital stay and overall mortality rate.

Digitalis use is associated with increased re-admission rates for any reason following discharge from the hospital at 6, 12, and 24 months.