Infective endocarditis profile, prognostic factors and in‐hospital mortality: 6‐year trends from a tertiary university center in South America

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) remains an expressive health problem with high morbimortality rates. Despite its importance, epidemiological and microbiological data remain scarce, especially in developing countries. Aim This study aims to describe IE epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological profile in a tertiary university center in South America, and to identify in‐hospital mortality rate and predictors. Methods An observational, retrospective study of 167 patients, who fulfilled modified Duke's criteria during a six‐year enrollment period, from January 2010 to December 2015. The primary outcome was defined as in‐hospital mortality analyzed according to treatment received (clinical vs surgical). Multivariate analysis identified mortality predictors. Results The median age was 60 years (Q1‐Q350‐71), and 66% were male. Echocardiogram demonstrated vegetations in 90.4%. An infective agent was identified in 76.6%, being Staphylococcus aureus (19%), Enterococcus (12%), coagulase‐negative staphylococci (10%), and Streptococcus viridans (9.6%) the most prevalent. Overall in‐hospital mortality was 41.9%, varying from 49.4% to 34.1%, in clinical and surgical patients, respectively (P = .047). On multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 2.5), previous structural heart disease (OR, 3.1), and mitral valve infection (OR, 2.1) were all‐cause death predictors. Surgical treatment was the only variable related to a better outcomes (OR, 0.45; 95% Confidence Interval, 0.2‐0.9). Conclusion This study presents IE profile and all‐cause mortality in a large patient's cohort, comprising a 6‐years’ time window, a rare initiative in developing countries. Elderly and male patients predominated, while S. aureus was the main microbiological agent. Patients conservatively treated presented higher mortality than surgically managed ones. Epidemiological studies from developing countries are essential to increase IE understanding.