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Digoxin Toxicity and Use of Digoxin Immune Fab: Insights From a National Hospital Database.

OBJECTIVES: This study was developed to determine contemporary management of digoxin toxicity and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although the use of digoxin in heart failure management has declined, toxicity remains a prevalent complication.

METHODS: The Premier Perspective Comparative Hospital Database (Premier Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina) was used to retrospectively identify patients diagnosed with digoxin toxicity and/or who received digoxin immune fab (DIF) over a 5-year period (2007 to 2011). DIF was evaluated using treatment date, number of vials administered, and total cost. Clinical outcomes included length of stay (total hospitalization; days after DIF), cost of hospitalization, and in-hospital mortality. Exploratory multivariate analyses were conducted to determine predictors of DIF and effect on length of stay, adjusting for patient characteristics and selection bias.

RESULTS: Digoxin toxicity diagnosis without DIF treatment accounted for 19,543 cases; 5,004 patients received DIF of whom 3086 had a diagnosis of toxicity. Most patients were >65 years old (88%). The predictors of DIF use were urgent/emergent admission, hyperkalemia, arrhythmia associated with digoxin toxicity, acute renal failure, or suicidal intent (odds ratios 1.7, 2.4, 3.6, 2.1, and 3.7, respectively; p < 0.0001 for all). The majority (78%) of DIF was administered on days 1 and 2 of the hospitalization; 10% received treatment after day 7. Digoxin was used after DIF administration in 14% of cases. Among patients who received DIF within 2 days of admission, there was no difference for in-hospital mortality or length of stay compared with patients not receiving DIF.

CONCLUSIONS: Digoxin toxicity diagnoses are clustered in the elderly. One-fifth of cases receive treatment with DIF, most within 2 days of admission. Opportunities exist for improved diagnosis and post-DIF management. Prospective data may be required to assess the impact of DIF on length of stay.

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