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[Prescription habits in the long-term treatment with digitalis glycosides]
Insights
Discontinuing digitalis treatment in patients with cardiovascular disease was feasible for many, particularly those with hypertension. However, careful consideration of specific conditions like heart failure is crucial before stopping digitalis glycosides.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Internal Medicine
Context:
- Digitalis glycosides are commonly prescribed for cardiovascular diseases.
- Maintenance digitalis therapy is standard for many patients.
- Assessing the necessity of ongoing digitalis treatment is important for optimizing patient care.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the feasibility and safety of discontinuing digitalis-glycoside treatment in patients with diverse cardiovascular conditions.
- To identify patient subgroups where digitalis withdrawal is well-tolerated versus those where it is less justified.
- To inform clinical practice regarding the appropriate application of digitalis glycoside therapy.
Summary:
- A study involving 200 cardiovascular patients on maintenance digitalis assessed treatment discontinuation.
- Digitalis was successfully discontinued without adverse effects in 73% of hypertension patients, 64% with peripheral arterial obstructive disease, and 33% with coronary heart disease.
- Discontinuation was less successful in patients with valvar defects, cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular insufficiency, suggesting a need for more rigorous application of digitalis indications.
Impact:
- Highlights the variable success rates of digitalis discontinuation across different cardiovascular diseases.
- Emphasizes the need for stricter adherence to guidelines for prescribing digitalis glycosides.
- Suggests potential for de-prescribing digitalis in select patient populations, reducing medication burden and potential side effects.
Abstract:
The feasibility of discontinuing digitalis-glycoside treatment was tested in 200 patients with various cardiovascular diseases who, on admission to hospital, were on maintenance digitalis. Among those with the main diagnosis of hypertension digitalis administration was discontinued without ill effect in 73%; among those with peripheral arterial obstructive disease in 64%; and among those with coronary heart disease in 33%. Discontinuing digitalis was less often justified in patients with valvar defects, cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular insufficiency. Indications for digitalis-glycoside treatment should be more rigorously applied.