Old heart drug gets a second look: can low doses save lives?

NCT ID NCT03783429

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University Medical Center Groningen Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether low doses of digoxin, an old and cheap heart drug, can reduce hospitalizations and death in 982 heart failure patients. Participants received either digoxin or a placebo pill. The goal is to see if keeping digoxin levels low in the blood improves outcomes without the risks seen at higher doses.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Digoxin

What this could lead to

If successful, low-dose digoxin could become a cheap, widely available option to reduce heart failure hospitalizations and possibly improve survival.

What could go wrong

This is a phase 4 trial confirming earlier findings, but digoxin has a narrow safety margin and may still show no mortality benefit, as seen in the original DIG trial.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

atrial fibrillation heart failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEART FAILURE

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Admiraal de Ruyter Ziekenhuis

Goes, Netherlands
Alrijne Ziekenhuis

Leiden, Netherlands
Amphia Ziekenhuis

Breda, Netherlands
Antonius Ziekenhuis Sneek

Sneek, Netherlands
Beatrix Ziekenhuis

Gorinchem, Netherlands
Bethesda

Hoogeveen, Netherlands
BovenIJ Ziekenhuis

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bravis ziekenhuis

Roosendaal, Netherlands
Deventer Ziekenhuis

Deventer, Netherlands
Diak. Utrecht

Utrecht, Netherlands
Elisabeth-Tweesteden Ziekenhuis

Tilburg, Netherlands
Elkerliek Ziekenhuis

Helmond, Netherlands
Erasmus Medisch Centrum

Rotterdam, Netherlands
Franciscus Gasthuis

Rotterdam, Netherlands
Franciscus Vlietland

Schiedam, Netherlands
Gelre Ziekenhuizen

Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Groene Hart Ziekenhuis

Gouda, Netherlands
Haaglanden Medisch Centrum

The Hague, Netherlands
Ijsselland Ziekenhuis

Capelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands
Ikazia Ziekenhuis

Rotterdam, Netherlands
Isala Diaconessenhuis

Meppel, Netherlands
Maastricht UMC+

Maastricht, Netherlands
Martini Ziekenhuis

Groningen, Netherlands
Meander Medisch Centrum

Amersfoort, Netherlands
Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden

Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Máxima Medisch Centrum

Veldhoven, Netherlands
Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep

Alkmaar, Netherlands
Radboud University Medical Center

Nijmegen, Netherlands
Refaja

Stadskanaal, Netherlands
Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis

Delft, Netherlands
Rijnstate Ziekenhuis

Arnhem, Netherlands
Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis

Beverwijk, Netherlands
Saxenburgh MC

Hardenberg, Netherlands
Scheper Ziekenhuis

Emmen, Netherlands
Slingeland Ziekenhuis

Doetinchem, Netherlands
Spaarne Gasthuis

Haarlem, Netherlands
Tergooi

Blaricum, Netherlands
University Medical Center Groningen

Groningen, Netherlands
Van Weel Bethesda

Dirksland, Netherlands
Zaans Medisch Centrum

Zaandam, Netherlands
Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei

Ede, Netherlands
Ziekenhuis St Jansdal

Harderwijk, Netherlands
Zorggroep Twente

Almelo, Netherlands
Zuyderland Medisch Centrum

Heerlen, Netherlands