Infective Endocarditis in Individuals Who Use Intravenous Drugs

Patients with IE associated with injection drug use differ in multiple ways from others with the disease.

Injection drug use (IDU) is a well-established risk factor for infective endocarditis (IE). Most of our evidence base for the epidemiology of IDU-associated IE is drawn from relatively small studies. To obtain a contemporary understanding of the issue during the opioid epidemic, investigators compared 591 people who injected drugs and 7025 who did not; all had definite or possible IE according to modified Duke criteria. Data, spanning the years 2000 to 2016, came from a large multisite international cohort study or from a related database involving 30 countries.

The IDU group was significantly younger than the comparison group (mean age, 37 vs. 63), less likely to have diabetes (3% vs. 20%), and more likely to have HIV infection (14% vs. 1%)…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)