Infective endocarditis has an annual incidence of up to 10 per 100,000 of the general population and carries a mortality of up to 30% at 30 days. In the last 30 years there has been a doubling of the average patient age and an increased prevalence in patients with indwelling cardiac devices. (1) (2)
It is three times more common in men than in women and has a higher incidence in patients over 60 years of age.
Healthcare-related infections now account for 25-30% of newly reported cases of endocarditis and subacute infection is more prevalent than the acute form.
Most cases occur on normal valves, though 15-30% of cases occur on prosthetic heart valves , with an increased prevalence now occurring in patients with indwelling cardiac devices.
Left sided endocarditis accounts for 95% of cases with aortic and mitral valves affected equally
References:
1. JL; RR. Infective Endocarditis: A contemporary update. Clinical Medicine (London) 2020 Jan. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31941729/
2. Cahill TJ et al. Infective endocarditis. Lancet. 2015 Sep. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26341945/
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