Global trends in infective endocarditis epidemiology

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Global understanding of infective endocarditis (IE) is improving through multi-center studies and case reports.
• Significant knowledge gaps and a lack of population-based data persist.
• IE epidemiology varies significantly between developed and developing countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the current global epidemiological landscape of infective endocarditis.
• To identify key differences in IE prevalence, predisposing factors, and causative pathogens across diverse regions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of multi-center collaborative studies and reported case series.
• Comparative review of epidemiological data from developed and developing countries.

Main Results:

• In developed countries, IE affects an older population, with diminishing rheumatic heart disease prevalence, increasing importance of Staphylococcus pathogens, and a rise in healthcare-associated cases.
• In developing countries, IE predominantly affects younger individuals, is linked to rheumatic heart disease, and is primarily caused by Streptococcus species, mirroring historical trends in developed nations.

Conclusions:

• Infective endocarditis epidemiology is dynamic and regionally diverse.
• Shifting demographics and pathogen prevalence necessitate tailored prevention and treatment strategies.
• Further population-based studies are crucial to address existing knowledge gaps.