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

Summary 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.