Digitalis Therapy in a 70‐Year‐Old Population

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Abstract
In the population study “70‐year‐old people in Gothenburg” 14% of the probands were found to be undergoing treatment with digitalis, 6% with digoxin, 6% with digitoxin and 2% with other glycosides. A comparison between results of the interview method and those of S‐digoxin analyses indicates that the interview method was acceptable. As far as can be judged from S‐digoxin analyses, only about 60% of the treated patients were on a dosage considered to be effective and free from obvious risks of side‐effects. Out of the 130 70‐year‐olds who were on digitalis treatment, 37% had obvious symptoms of heart disease requiring such treatment, 34% lacked symptoms of arrhythmia and/or congestive failure but had heart volumes larger than those used as reference values in younger age groups, and 29% had no symptoms indicating digitalis treatment. At least 13% of the population had indications for digitalis therapy and about 75% of those apparently needing digitalis were on such treatment. Thus both over‐ and underdiagnosis of heart disease requiring digitalis therapy were common in this age group.

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