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Antithrombotic agents: Do they protect from infective endocarditis? A retrospective observational study using TriNetx
Alfonso Gotor-Rivera1, José Luis Alejo Fernández-Baillo1, Julián Acosta-Hernández1
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital "12 de Octubre", Madrid, Spain.
Summary
Antithrombotic therapies, including antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, did not significantly prevent infective endocarditis (IE) in a large study. Further research is needed to confirm these findings for IE prevention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection with high morbidity and mortality.
- Platelets play a key role in IE pathogenesis.
- Antithrombotic therapy's preventive role in IE is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of IE in patients receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy compared to untreated individuals.
- To assess the effectiveness of antithrombotic agents in preventing IE.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, population-based study using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network.
- 10-year follow-up period.
- Propensity score matching to control for comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Neither antiplatelet nor anticoagulant therapy significantly reduced IE incidence in low-risk individuals.
- Anticoagulant therapy showed a non-significant trend towards reduced IE risk in high-risk patients (HR 0.55).
Conclusions:
- Current antithrombotic therapies do not demonstrate significant protective effects against infective endocarditis.
- Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
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