Old heart drug gets a second look: can low doses save lives?
NCT ID NCT03783429
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.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Admiraal de Ruyter Ziekenhuis
Goes, Netherlands
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Alrijne Ziekenhuis
Leiden, Netherlands
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Amphia Ziekenhuis
Breda, Netherlands
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Antonius Ziekenhuis Sneek
Sneek, Netherlands
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Beatrix Ziekenhuis
Gorinchem, Netherlands
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Bethesda
Hoogeveen, Netherlands
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BovenIJ Ziekenhuis
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Bravis ziekenhuis
Roosendaal, Netherlands
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Deventer Ziekenhuis
Deventer, Netherlands
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Diak. Utrecht
Utrecht, Netherlands
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Elisabeth-Tweesteden Ziekenhuis
Tilburg, Netherlands
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Elkerliek Ziekenhuis
Helmond, Netherlands
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Erasmus Medisch Centrum
Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Franciscus Gasthuis
Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Franciscus Vlietland
Schiedam, Netherlands
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Gelre Ziekenhuizen
Apeldoorn, Netherlands
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Groene Hart Ziekenhuis
Gouda, Netherlands
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Haaglanden Medisch Centrum
The Hague, Netherlands
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Ijsselland Ziekenhuis
Capelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands
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Ikazia Ziekenhuis
Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Isala Diaconessenhuis
Meppel, Netherlands
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Maastricht UMC+
Maastricht, Netherlands
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Martini Ziekenhuis
Groningen, Netherlands
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Meander Medisch Centrum
Amersfoort, Netherlands
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Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden, Netherlands
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Máxima Medisch Centrum
Veldhoven, Netherlands
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Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep
Alkmaar, Netherlands
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Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Refaja
Stadskanaal, Netherlands
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Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis
Delft, Netherlands
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Rijnstate Ziekenhuis
Arnhem, Netherlands
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Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis
Beverwijk, Netherlands
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Saxenburgh MC
Hardenberg, Netherlands
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Scheper Ziekenhuis
Emmen, Netherlands
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Slingeland Ziekenhuis
Doetinchem, Netherlands
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Spaarne Gasthuis
Haarlem, Netherlands
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Tergooi
Blaricum, Netherlands
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University Medical Center Groningen
Groningen, Netherlands
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Van Weel Bethesda
Dirksland, Netherlands
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Zaans Medisch Centrum
Zaandam, Netherlands
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Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei
Ede, Netherlands
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Ziekenhuis St Jansdal
Harderwijk, Netherlands
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Zorggroep Twente
Almelo, Netherlands
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Zuyderland Medisch Centrum
Heerlen, Netherlands
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