Demographic Characteristics, Clinical Presentation, Underlying Conditions, and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis

Background: The understanding of the epidemiology and demographic patterns of diseases can accelerate diagnosis and treatment,as well as decrease morbidity and mortality.Objectives: This study was performed to determine the epidemiological pattern of infective endocarditis in the city of Ahvaz, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۷۹ patients with infective endocarditis were studied between ۲۰۰۴ and ۲۰۱۳ in Razi TeachingHospital affiliated to the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The diagnosis was made based on the Duke criteria.The data were recorded in a checklist for epidemiologic data including age, gender, time to defervescence, etc. Data analysis wasperformed using SPSS version ۱۸ software.Results: Amongthe sample of ۷۹ patients, the frequency was highest inmen(n = ۶۵, ۸۲.۳%) and in the age group of ۲۶ - ۳۵ years (۳۸%).The fever was resolved in ۴۹ (۴۹.۴%) patients after four days whereas ۱۹ (۲۴.۱%) patients had no fever. The mostcommonpredisposingfactor was being an intravenous drug user, which was true for ۴۴ (۵۵.۷%) patients. The mostcommonaffected valve was the tricuspidvalve, as seen in ۴۳ (۵۴.۴%) patients. The most common peripheral manifestation was musculoskeletal manifestations seen in ۱۳(۱۶.۵%) patients. Blood cultures were positive in ۱۲ (۱۵.۲%) patients. Fifteen (۱۹%) patients expired during the study period and ۶۴patients were improved, of whom ۲۳.۴% required surgical intervention.Conclusions: Appropriate diagnosis is necessary for decreasing mortality.

Keywords:

Endocarditis , Demography , Treatment , Outcome , Iran