Long‐term outcomes of mitral valve endocarditis: improved survival through collaborative management

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) of the mitral valve is an illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We describe the long-term outcomes of mitral valve endocarditis at a single centre. METHODS: All patients who presented with IE to the study institution between 2000 and 2015 were included. Data were obtained by retrospective review of the medical records. RESULTS: There were 163 patients who presented with mitral valve IE. Mean age was 58 +/- 16.8 years. A history of intravenous drug use was present in 18% (30/163) of patients. The most common infective agents were Staphylococcus aureus in 42% (69/163) (7% (5/69) were methicillin resistant), viridans Streptococus species in 15% (25/163) and Enterococcus faecalis in 10% (17/163). Surgery was performed in 29% (47/163) of patients. Hospital mortality was 23% (38/163). Survival was 71% (95% confidence interval (CI) 63.1-77.6%) at 1 year, 56% (95% CI 46.0-64.9%) at 5 years and 44% (95% CI 36.4-59.7%) at 10 years follow-up. There was no survival difference between medical and surgical management (P = 0.55). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, need for renal replacement therapy (P = 0.003) and increasing age (P = 0.014) were found to be risk factors while infectious diseases consult during index admission (P = 0.007) was found to be protective. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve endocarditis is associated with survival of <50% at 10 years follow-up. Surgical and medical management were associated with similar outcomes. Increasing age and need for renal replacement therapy were associated with mortality, and infectious diseases consultation was associated with improved survival.