The effects of Digoxin use on long-term prognosis in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of digoxin on mortality and rehospitalization in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. Heart failure is a clinical syndrome that requires frequent rehospitalization and has a high mortality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of digoxin on mortality and rehospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 326 patients with HFrEF that were hospitalized for decompensation between September 2014 and January 2016. The patients were divided into two groups: digoxin users and a control group. The study's endpoints were cardiovascular death and rehospitalization after 24-month long-term follow-ups. RESULTS: Rehospitalization was lower in patients taking digoxin (25% vs. 47%, p = 0.001). The mean age of patients taking digoxin (n: 78) was 63.7 +/- 12.4 years, among which 64% were males. The mean age of the control group was 65.4 +/- 11.8 years, among which 74% were males. However, there was no difference in mortality between the two groups (34% vs. 45%, p = 0.10). While Kaplan-Meier curves revealed no significant differences between mortality rates in the groups (log-rank p = 0.508), a statistical difference was found between the groups in rehospitalization rates (log- rank p = 0.013). A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that smoking (HR: 1.97, CI: 1.24-3.11, p = 0.004), systolic blood pressure (HR: 0.983, CI: 0.974-0.992, p < 0.001), a trial fibrillation (HR: 2.09, CI: 1.17-3.72, p = 0.012), C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR: 1.009, CI: 1.003-1.015, p = 0.004), beta-blockers (HR: 0.891, CI: 0.799-0.972, p = 0.009), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (HR: 0.778, CI: 0.641-0.956, p < 0.001), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (HR: 0.41, CI:0.26-0.65, p < 0.001), and digoxin use (HR: 0.59, CI: 0.43-0.80, p = 0.001) are independent predictors of rehospitalization in patients with HFrEF. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that digoxin use does not affect mortality in HFrEF patients. However, rehospitalization decreased in patients taking digoxin in HFrEF.