The Epidemiology of Infective Endocarditis Among People Who Inject Drugs in London, Ontario.

Author

Brian Hallam, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Supervisor

Stranges, Saverio

2nd Supervisor

Silverman, Michael

Co-Supervisor

Abstract

Infective endocarditis is an infectious disease that affects the valves of the heart. Injection drug use is currently a leading risk factor among patients with endocarditis. We conducted a prospective study using data from hospital chart records among patients with endocarditis in London, Ontario, which has a relatively high prevalence of people who inject drugs to assess the severity of the issue and the major risk factors of mortality pertaining to this population. This study had a sample size of 353 and included a review of the incidence of admissions of endocarditis, as well as a survival analysis, using both univariate and multivariate methods. We found the incidence to be rising among both people who inject drugs and those who do not. In the total group, the use of injection drugs (HR: 2.50, 95% C.I. 1.41 to 4.34), age (HR: 1.03 per year, 95% C.I. 1.01 to 1.05), methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus infection (HR: 3.23, 95% C.I. 1.79 to 5.84) and methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus (HR:1.74, 95% C.I. 1.05 to 2.87) infection were shown to be significantly associated with all-cause mortality. With the ongoing proliferation of injection drug use, additional harm reduction strategies to further reduce the incidence and impact of endocarditis among people who inject drugs is important.

Recommended Citation

Hallam, Brian, "The Epidemiology of Infective Endocarditis Among People Who Inject Drugs in London, Ontario." (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5621.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5621