Risk Factors for Mortality in an Older Veteran Population With infective Endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE To determine 30-day and 1-year mortality in patients treated for infective endocarditis (IE) in a VA population. The secondary objective was to identify risk factors for increased risk of mortality in veterans diagnosed with IE. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. SETTING Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System PARTICIPANTS: Patients who had a diagnosis of IE between the years 2005 and 2016. Patients were identified via International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Factors for death and survival were compared using a bivariate analysis. Significant factors were built into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine risk factors for death at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS Between 2005 and 2016, there were 153 patients with IE. All-cause mortality at 30 days was 14% versus 39% at 1 year. Patients were more likely to die at 1 year with higher Pitt Bacteremia Scores, older age, and lower number of minor criteria according to Duke Criteria. Comorbidities were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS Older patients with higher Pitt Bacteremia Scores and lower numbers of minor criteria are more likely to experience mortality at one year. Given the high rates of death at one year, close monitoring, even after completion of therapy may be necessary in older patients. Senior care pharmacists are in a unique position to monitor these patients.