incidence

Last reviewed 01/2018

Some information concerning the incidence of infective endocarditis is given below:

  • incidence of infective endocarditis in Europe and the USA is around 1.7-6.2 per 100,000 person-years (1)
  • twice as common in men than in women
  • average mortality rate is 20%:
    • higher in patients over 65 years of age
    • 0.1% of all cardiac deaths
  • subacute infection far more prevalent than acute form
  • 50% of cases occur on normal valves, though 15-30% of cases occur on prosthetic heart valves
  • left sided endocarditis accounts for 95% of cases, aortic and mitral valves are effected equally
  • in many instances, infective endocarditis cannot be clearly attributed to a prior bacteraemic event

Reference:

  1. Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin (2002), 40 (4), 26-30.