Endocarditis epidemiology and demographics
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Incidence
The incidence of infective endocarditis is approximately 2-4 cases per 100,000 persons per year worldwide. This rate has not changed in the past 5-6 decades.
Age
Infective endocarditis may occur in a person of any age. The frequency is increasing in elderly individuals, with 25-50% of cases occurring in those older than 60 years of age.
Gender
Infective endocarditis is 3 times more common in males than in females.
Risk Factors for Endocarditis
Adults and children with underlying cardiac conditions placing them at highest risk for adverse outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) including those with:
- Prosthetic cardiac valve or prosthetic cardiac valve repair
- Previous infective endocarditis
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) associated with
- Unrepaired cyanotic CHD, including palliative shunts and conduits
- Completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter intervention, during the first 6 months after the procedure
- Repaired CHD with residual defects at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or prosthetic device (which inhibit endothelialization)
- Cardiac transplantation patients who develop cardiac valvulopathy