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Observational Study
. 2019 Feb;31(1):39-42.

Immediate and 30 days mortality in digoxin poisoning cases attended in the Hospital Emergency Services of Catalonia, Spain

[Article in English, Spanish]
Affiliations
  • PMID: 30656872
Free article
Observational Study

Immediate and 30 days mortality in digoxin poisoning cases attended in the Hospital Emergency Services of Catalonia, Spain

[Article in English, Spanish]
August Supervía Caparrós et al. Emergencias. 2019 Feb.
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: Digoxin poisoning is a frequent reason for seeking emergency care. This study aimed to assess mortality related to digoxin poisoning.

Material and methods: Descriptive observational study of digoxin poisonings attended in the emergency departments of 4 hospitals in Catalonia from 2013 through 2015. We gathered data relevant to the poisonings and recorded immediate and 30-day mortality. Factors possibly related to mortality were explored.

Results: A total of 171 digoxin poisonings were attended. Seven (4.1%) were acute and 164 (95.9%) were chronic. The immediate and 30-day mortality rates were 6.4% and 13.4%, respectively. Bivariate analysis did not identify factors related to immediate mortality. However, the variables more often associated with 30-day mortality in this analysis were acute poisoning (after which 13% died vs 2.7% of those with chronic poisoning, P=.05), suicide attempts (8.7% of whom died vs 0.7%, P=.048), more compromised renal function (21.7% vs 9.5%, P=.037), fewer neurologic symptoms (4.3% vs 17.8% with more symptoms, P=.005), higher mean digoxin concentrations (4.7 mg/dL in those who died vs 3.7 mg/dL, P=.027), and a lower Barthel index (mean [SD] 49.1 [33.4] in those who died vs 70.3 [28.5]; P=.006). Logistic regression analysis identified serum digoxin concentration to be independently associated with immediate mortality. A lower Barthel index was associated with 30-day mortality.

Conclusion: Immediate mortality is related to a high digoxin concentration in serum, and 30-day mortality to a low Barthel index.

Objetivo: La intoxicación digitálica es un motivo frecuente de consulta en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH). El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la mortalidad asociada a dicha intoxicación.

Metodo: Estudio descriptivo y observacional de las intoxicaciones digitálicas atendidas en los SUH de 4 hospitales de Cataluña durante los años 2013-15. Se recogieron datos relativos a la intoxicación, la mortalidad inmediata y a los 30 días. Se analizó la existencia de posibles factores asociados a la mortalidad.

Resultados: Se registraron 171 intoxicaciones digitálicas. Siete eran agudas (4,1%) y 164 (95,9%) crónicas. La mortalidad inmediata fue del 6,4% y a los 30 días fue del 13,4%. El análisis binario no identificó ningún factor relacionado con la mortalidad inmediata. En cuanto a la mortalidad a 30 días, los pacientes que fallecieron tenían con mayor frecuencia una intoxicación aguda (13% vs 2,7%; p = 0,05), había más intoxicaciones con intencionalidad suicida (8,7% vs 0,7%; p = 0,048), más afectación renal (21,7% vs 9,5%; p = 0,037), menos sintomatología neurológica (4,3% vs 17,8%; p = 0,005), mayor digoxinemia (4,7 mg/dl vs 3,7 mg/dl; p = 0,027) y menor puntuación en el índice de Barthel (IB) (49,1 (33,4) vs 70,3 (28,5); p = 0,006). El análisis de regresión logística identificó la digoxinemia como un factor independiente de mortalidad inmediata y la puntuación en el IB en la mortalidad a 30 días.

Conclusiones: La digoxinemia se relaciona con la mortalidad inmediata y el IB se relaciona con la mortalidad a 30 días.

Keywords: Digoxin; Digoxina; Mortality, 30-day; Mortality, immediate; Toxicity, digoxin; intoxicación digitàlica; mortalidad a los 30 días; mortalidad inmediata.

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