Prescription of digitalis in a health centre serving a defined rural population in Iceland.

Abstract

The use of digitalis glycosides in the Egilsstadir district in eastern Iceland was studied. The district which has a well-defined catchment area has a health centre with three general practitioners serving a registered population of 2802 inhabitants. This is 1.2% of the total population of Iceland with similar age and sex distribution. Twenty-four patients (0.9%) were treated with digitalis glycosides. The most common patient complaint before starting therapy was shortness of breath. The general practitioners started therapy in 17 cases, consultants in seven. Ecg was taken before therapy in 22 cases and showed 15 patients with sinus rhythm. The most common diagnosis was heart failure (62%). The only glycoside used was digoxin. The use of cardiac glycosides in the Egilsstadir health district was low both compared with Iceland as a whole and with other Nordic countries. Considering studies on discontinuation of maintenance digoxin therapy in general practice and also the findings in this study it is suggested that the use of digitalis glycosides in the Egilsstadir health district and in Iceland could be even lower.