Presentation and outcome of infective endocarditis in Spain: a retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze cases of infective endocarditis in patients who attended the Hospital General de Castellón, Spain, between 1999 and 2004.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed, variation in presentation over time was analyzed, and factors influencing outcome were determined.

Results: A total of 54 cases in 48 patients were included; 33 (61%) were in men. The median patient age was 62 years. Infective endocarditis occurred on a native valve in 36 cases (67%), a mechanical prosthetic valve in 12 (22%), and a pacemaker in six (11%). The mitral valve was the most commonly affected site. Transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography showed a vegetation in 45 (83%) cases, moderate or severe valvular regurgitation in 27 (50%), and intracardiac destructive lesions in five (9%). The outcome in 15 (28%) cases was death, and multivariate analysis disclosed significantly increased risk of death associated with older age, lower serum albumin, and higher white blood cell count.

Conclusions: This study confirmed the protean nature of infective endocarditis, and identified several factors predictive of mortality including advanced age, low serum albumin, and high white blood cell count.