Infective endocarditis continues to be a significant concern and may be undergoing an epidemiological transition.
Were studied 1804 consecutive episodes of infective endocarditis between 1978 and ...2022. The mean age was 48 ( ± 19), and 1162 (64%) patients were male. Temporal trends in demographic data, comorbidities, predisposing conditions, microorganisms, complications and in-hospital death have been studied over the decades (1978–1988, 1989–1999, 2000–2010 and 2011–2022). The outcomes and clinical characteristics were modeled using nonlinear cubic spline functions.
Valve surgery was performed in 50% of the patients and overall in-hospital mortality was 30%. From the first to the fourth decade studied, the average age of patients increased from 29 to 57 years (p < 0.001), with significant declines in the occurrence of rheumatic valvular heart disease (15% to 6%; p < 0.001) and streptococcal infections (46% to 33%; p < 0.001). Healthcare-associated infections have increased (9% to 21%; p < 0.001), as have prosthetic valve endocarditis (26% to 53%; p < 0.001), coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections (4% to 11%; p < 0.001), and related-complications (heart failure, embolic events, and perivalvular abscess; p < 0.001). These changes were associated with a decline in adjusted in-hospital mortality from 34% to 25% (p = 0.019).
In the 44 years studied, there was an increase in the mean age of patients, healthcare-related, prosthetic valve, coagulase-negative staphylococci/MRSA infections, and related complications. Notably, these epidemiological changes were associated with a decline in the adjusted in-hospital mortality.
Premature complexes are common electrocardiographic findings in daily clinical practice that require further evaluation. Investigation may sometimes be complex and expensive. The aim of our study was ...to analyze variables associated with premature beats identified in outpatients referred from a primary care facility.
We performed a cross-sectional study of 407 outpatients (aged 55.8±11years; 56% women) who were followed by general practitioners and were referred for resting 12-lead electrocardiograms for a routine clinical follow-up. After signing informed consent, patients answered a questionnaire and underwent physical examinations, laboratory diagnostics, transthoracic echocardiograms and 24-hour Holter monitoring to evaluate for the presence of premature complexes. After the univariate analyses, logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustment for age, sex, and cardiovascular diseases.
Premature complexes distribution revealed that they were frequent but with low density. Premature atrial complexes (≥ 4/hours) were associated with age (Odds Ratio (OD) = 1.030, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% = 1.002 ─ 1.059, p = 0.029), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels > 20mg/dL (OR = 4.489, 95%CI = 1.918 ─ 10.507, p = 0.0005), intraventricular blocks (OR = 4.184, 95%CI = 1.816 ─ 9.406, p = 0.0005) and left atrial diameter (OR = 1.065, 95%CI = 1.001 ─ 1.134, p = 0.046). Premature ventricular complexes (≥ 5/hour) were related to age (OR = 1.032, 95%CI = 1.010 ─ 1.054, p = 0.004), the use of calcium channel blockers (OR = 2.248, 95%CI = 1.019 ─ 4.954, p = 0.045), HDL-cholesterol levels (OR = 0.971, 95%CI = 0.951 ─ 0.992, p = 0.007), BNP levels > 20mg/dL (OR = 2.079, 95%CI = 0.991 ─ 0.998, p = 0.033), heart rate (OR = 1.019, 95%CI = 1.001 ─ 1.038, p = 0.041), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 2.292, 95%CI = 1.402 ─ 3.746, p = 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (OR = 0.938, 95%CI = 0.900 ─ 0.978, p = 0.002).
Premature complexes had low density and were associated with BNP levels > 20mg/dL, lower levels of HDL-cholesterol, left atrial enlargement and ventricular hypertrophy. The identification of premature complexes on 24-hour Holter monitor recordings of outpatients in a primary public healthcare setting was associated with uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors that may be addressed with medical advice and therapy in a primary care setting.
•Studies reporting the etiology of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) are an unmet clinical need.•A prospective cohort study was performed along with a literature review to describe the distribution ...of the etiology of PVE.•At >120days after valve surgery, there is a decrease in the incidence of resistant microorganisms.•PVE occurring at >120days after surgery may be treated with the same empirical treatment as for late PVE.•This approach could lead to higher antibiotic efficacy and less damage to the patient’s natural flora.
To determine the annual incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and to evaluate its current classification based on the epidemiological distribution of agents identified and their sensitivity profiles.
Consecutive cases of PVE occurring within the first year of valve surgery during the period 1997–2014 were included in this prospective cohort study. Incidence, demographic, clinical, microbiological, and in-hospital mortality data of these PVE patients were recorded.
One hundred and seventy-two cases of PVE were included, and the global annual incidence of PVE was 1.7%. Most PVE cases occurred within 120days after surgery (76.7%). After this period, there was a reduction in resistant microorganisms (64.4% vs. 32.3%, respectively; p=0.007) and an increase in the incidence of Streptococcus spp (1.9% vs. 23.5%; p=0.007). A literature review revealed 646 cases of PVE with an identified etiology, of which 264 (41%) were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci and 43 (7%) by Streptococcus spp. This is in agreement with the current study findings.
Most PVE cases occurred within 120days after valve surgery, and the same etiological agents were identified in this period. The current cut-off level of 365days for the classification of early-onset PVE should be revisited.
It is critically important for stakeholders with distinct foci of attention on healthcare to understand patient evolution in the presence of an established diagnosis or with a suspected diagnosis of ...various diseases, specially considering death as an outcome. To study the long-term mortality of patients at a cardiovascular referral hospital. Deterministic binding (selection of pairs of registers from the hospital electronic health records and the mortality records of São Paulo state) from 2002 to 2017 was performed. Studied variables were: age, sex, hospital treatment unit where the first visit occurred (Emergency Unit, Outpatient Unit, Hospital Admissions, Diagnostics Services), treatment type, elapsed time between the first visit and death, diagnosis at first and last visits and variables related to death. Statistical Methods: descriptive, survival (with Kaplan-Meier method), correspondence and competitive risks analyses; in case of nonoccurrence of death until the end of 2017, the patients were considered alive. Statistical significance was set at values of P < .05. Median age at the first visit to the Hospital was 51.9 years. Birth locations included 4496 cities, 17.33% in São Paulo, 0.41% in Rio de Janeiro, 0.40% in Osasco, 24.04% in other cities. Sex included females (46.7%), males (44.2%), not defined (6.3%), and other (2.8%). We observed an association between diseases in ICD-10 Chapter 16 (certain conditions originating in the perinatal period) and Chapter 17 (congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities), both as diagnoses and underlying causes of death, as well as between neoplasms as diagnoses and as the underlying cause of death. In this sample, there was an association between admission diagnoses and underlying causes of death, such as neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, and congenital heart malformations. Additionally, patients who underwent a cardiac intervention had a smaller less mortality rate than those who were not operated on. There were also differences in cardiovascular mortality between distinct treatment units of the hospital ((Emergency Unit, Outpatient Unit, Hospital Admissions, Diagnostic Services).
•Patients with isolated right-sided fungal endocarditis had better survival.•Heart failure/medical treatment only were related to death in Candida endocarditis.•Isolated right-sided endocarditis a ...less harmful illness in Candida endocarditis.
To compare the clinical and epidemiological features, treatments, and outcomes of patients with isolated right-sided and left-sided fungal endocarditis and to determine the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with Candida sp endocarditis.
A retrospective review of all consecutive cases of fungal endocarditis from five hospitals was performed. Clinical features were compared between patients with isolated right-sided and left-sided endocarditis. In the subgroup of fungal endocarditis due to Candida species, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine variables related to in-hospital mortality.
Seventy-eight patients with fungal endocarditis were studied. Their median age was 50 years; 55% were male and 19 patients (24%) had isolated right-sided endocarditis. Overall, cardiac surgery was performed in 46 patients (59%), and in-hospital mortality was 54%. Compared to patients with left-side fungal endocarditis, patients with isolated right-sided endocarditis had lower mortality (32% vs. 61%; p=0.025) and were less often submitted to cardiac surgery (37% vs. 66%; p=0.024). The most frequent etiology was Candida spp (85%). In this subgroup, acute heart failure (odds ratio 5.0; p=0.027) and exclusive medical treatment (odds ratio 11.1; p=0.004) were independent predictors of in-hospital death, whereas isolated right-sided endocarditis was related to a lower risk of mortality (odds ratio 0.13; p=0.023).
Patients with isolated right-sided fungal endocarditis have particular clinical and epidemiological features. They were submitted to cardiac surgery less often and had better survival than patients with left-sided fungal endocarditis. Isolated right-sided endocarditis was also a marker of a less harmful illness in the subgroup of Candida sp endocarditis.
•We explore cardiac/inflammatory biomarkers to predict in-hospital mortality in endocarditis.•Troponin concentration measured at admission showed the highest accuracy for mortality ...prediction.•Inflammatory biomarkers had better accuracy at the 7th day than at admission.
Evidence regarding biomarkers for risk prediction in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) is limited. We aimed to investigate the value of a panel of biomarkers for the prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with IE.
Between 2016 and 2018, consecutive IE patients admitted to the emergency department were prospectively included. Blood concentrations of nine biomarkers were measured at admission (D0) and on the seventh day (D7) of antibiotic therapy: C-reactive protein (CRP), sensitive troponin I (s-cTnI), procalcitonin, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), proadrenomedullin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, and galectin 3. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality.
Among 97 patients, 56% underwent cardiac surgery, and in-hospital mortality was 27%. At admission, six biomarkers were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality: s-cTnI (OR 3.4; 95%CI 1.8–6.4; P<0.001), BNP (OR 2.7; 95%CI 1.4–5.1; P=0.002), IL-6 (OR 2.06; 95%CI 1.3–3.7; P=0.019), procalcitonin (OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.1–3.2; P=0.018), TNF-α (OR 1.8; 95%CI 1.1–2.9; P=0.019), and CRP (OR 1.8; 95%CI 1.0–3.3; P=0.037). At admission, S-cTnI provided the highest accuracy for predicting mortality (area under the ROC curve: s-cTnI 0.812, BNP 0.727, IL-6 0.734, procalcitonin 0.684, TNF-α 0.675, CRP 0.670). After 7 days of antibiotic therapy, BNP and inflammatory biomarkers improved their performance (s-cTnI 0.814, BNP 0.823, IL-6 0.695, procalcitonin 0.802, TNF-α 0.554, CRP 0.759).
S-cTnI concentration measured at admission had the highest accuracy for mortality prediction in patients with IE.
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