digitoxin and Diabetes-Mellitus

Digoxin is recommended in symptomatic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) in sinus rhythm and refractory to other evidence-based therapy. Although HF-REF patients with diabetes have worse functional status than those without, the effects of digoxin have not been specifically evaluated according to diabetes status.. We examined the efficacy and safety of digoxin in HF-REF patients with and without diabetes in the Digitalis Investigation Group trial. Mortality from all-cause, cardiovascular (CV) causes and heart failure (HF), along with HF hospitalisation and suspected digoxin toxicity were analyzed according to diabetes status and randomised treatment assignment.. Of the 6800 patients, those with diabetes (n=1933) were older, more often women, had worse clinical status and more co-morbidity than those without diabetes. All-cause and CV mortality were higher in patients with diabetes than in those without and digoxin did not reduce mortality in either sub-group. The rate of HF hospitalization (per 100 person-years) in patients with diabetes was higher than in those without and was reduced by digoxin in both patient groups: diabetes - placebo 20.5 and digoxin 16.0 (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68-0.91); no diabetes - placebo 12.7 and digoxin 8.7 (HR 0.69, 0.62-0.77); interaction p=0.14. Suspected digoxin toxicity in patients randomised to digoxin was more common among patients with diabetes than without (6.5% versus 5.8%), as was hospitalisation for digoxin toxicity (1.4% versus 0.8%).. Added to an ACE inhibitor, digoxin reduced HF hospitalisation in HF-REF patients with and without diabetes without a substantial risk of toxicity.

Topics: Aged; Cardiotonic Agents; Diabetes Mellitus; Digitalis; Digoxin; Female; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Humans; Hyperkalemia; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke Volume; Treatment Outcome

In recent years, lactic acidosis has been described in association with metformin therapy in diabetics. We report a fatal case in an elderly diabetic patient with impaired renal function and cardiac insufficiency. The patient presented with an elevated plasma metformin concentration and a concomitant digitoxin intoxication.

Topics: Acidosis; Aged; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Nephropathies; Digitoxin; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Lactates; Metformin

This survey deals with the 5 most important internal problems of old aged people undergoing surgery: chronic emphysematous bronchitis, geriatric heart, Diabetes mellitus, bleeding tendency during operation and venous thromboembolism.

Topics: Aged; Bandages; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Bronchitis; Diabetes Mellitus; Digitoxin; Digoxin; Emphysema; Exercise Therapy; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Preoperative Care; Respiratory Therapy; Strophanthins; Thromboembolism

Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Blood Pressure Determination; Carbamates; Coronary Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Digitalis; Geriatrics; Hydrochlorothiazide; Hypertension; Nitroglycerin; Obesity; Parkinsonian Disorders; Prednisolone; Reserpine; Tolbutamide

Topics: Diabetes Mellitus; Digitalis; Digitalis Glycosides; Humans; Lanatosides; Plant Extracts