The use of digitalis in family medicine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v17i4.9849Keywords:
Digoxin, Digitalis, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure, General PracticeAbstract
Objectives: To assess adequacy of therapy with digoxin and its monitoring in primary health care. Type of Study: Descriptive, cross-sectional Setting: Sete Rios Health Centre Benfica Outpost Population: Patients whose electronic clinical record had notes for prescription of digoxin. Methodology: Data were collected from clinical records using a form which consisted of closed questions on demographic data and patients clinical status. Results: Sixty-three patients were on digoxin, 88.9% of which were elderly. Their mean age was 74.4 years, with a Standard Deviation of 10.2 years. In this study, 25 (36.9%) patients met adequacy criteria, 7 (11.1%) had no indication for digitalics, and for the remaining 31 (49.2%) the unavailability of ancillary diagnostic exams characterising their atrial fibrillation and heart failure made it impossible to assess therapeutic adequacy. Six patients presented associated conditions. Half of the patients were simultaneously taking drugs which interfere with digoxins pharmacokinetics, and three quarters were on diuretics. Of the 63 patients, only eight had records of their serum digoxin levels, and for only two was there a shorter than 10 months gap. Conclusion: The results show that in around half of the patients adequacy of digoxin use cannot be assessed, and that serum concentrations of digoxin were not much valued. This may be explained by recording deficiencies, or by the fact that starting and monitoring digitalis therapy is delegated on to a cardiologist.Downloads
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.
The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.
