Drug Use–Associated Endocarditis on the Rise

The recent increase in intravenous opioid use in many parts of the U.S. has led to more drug use–associated infective endocarditis and resultant heart valve surgery.

Given the U.S. epidemic of opioid drug abuse in the last two decades, the incidence of drug use–associated infective endocarditis (DUA-IE) has, unsurprisingly, also risen, including a previously documented 12-fold increase in DUA-IE hospitalizations in North Carolina between 2010 and 2015. Now, using statewide discharge data, investigators have examined trends in hospitalization, valve surgery, length of stay, patient characteristics, and healthcare costs associated with DUA-IE in North Carolina from 2007 to 2017.

During the study period there were 22,825 hospitalizations for IE, of which 11% were for DUA-IE. Valve surgery was performed in 7% of IE hospitalizations, 17% of these in patients with DUA-IE. From the first to the final study year…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Drug Use–Associated Endocarditis on the Rise

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Reviewing Author