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Contents
  • Age and Gender
  • Lifestyle Choices
  • Health Conditions
  • Previous Infections

Are You at Risk for Infective Endocarditis?

Are You at Risk for Infective Endocarditis?

Why It Matters

Understanding the risk factors for infective endocarditis can help prevent this serious heart condition.
Contents
  • Age and Gender
  • Lifestyle Choices
  • Health Conditions
  • Previous Infections

Age and Gender

Age plays a significant role, with more than half of infective endocarditis cases occurring in individuals over 60. Men are also more likely to develop this condition than women, with male-to-female ratios ranging from 3:2 to 9:1.

Lifestyle Choices

Injection drug use significantly increases the risk of infective endocarditis. The use of contaminated needles can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, leading to heart valve infections. Poor dental hygiene is another risk factor, as it can allow harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream during dental procedures.
Understanding the risk factors such as age, gender, lifestyle choices, and dental hygiene that contribute to infective endocarditis.

Health Conditions

Individuals with structural heart disease or those with prosthetic valves are at a higher risk of developing infective endocarditis. Chronic conditions like diabetes or HIV may also contribute to the risk.

Previous Infections

A history of infective endocarditis increases the likelihood of recurrence. In a cohort study, 4.5 percent of patients who survived infective endocarditis experienced a recurrence.

FAQs

Who is more likely to develop infective endocarditis?

Older adults and men have higher chances of developing this condition.

Can lifestyle affect the risk?

Yes, drug use and poor dental hygiene can increase the risk.

Does having a heart condition increase risk?

Yes, structural heart disease and prosthetic valves are significant risk factors.

Does past infection matter?

Yes, past infective endocarditis increases the risk of recurrence.

Can chronic diseases affect risk?

Yes, conditions like diabetes and HIV can increase risk.

Stay Informed

Knowing your risk factors is the first step in prevention.
Talk to Doctronic today to assess your risk for infective endocarditis.
Additional References
  1. Ambrosioni J, Hernandez-Meneses M, Téllez A, et al. The Changing Epidemiology of Infective Endocarditis in the Twenty-First Century. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2017; 19:21.
  2. Østergaard L, Valeur N, Wang A, et al. Incidence of infective endocarditis in patients considered at moderate risk. Eur Heart J 2019; 40:1355.
  3. Gersony WM, Hayes CJ, Driscoll DJ, et al. Bacterial endocarditis in patients with aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, or ventricular septal defect. Circulation 1993; 87:I121.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.