Characterizing Risk Factors Associated with the Recurrence of Infective Endocarditis and Mortality among People Who Inject Drugs
Abstract
Background. The incidence of infective endocarditis is progressively rising among people who inject drugs.
Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from electronic medical records to characterize important predictors that contribute to the recurrence of infective endocarditis and evaluate the associations of survival time and predictors of interest in the presence of competing risks among people who inject drugs. Multivariate logistic and survival regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with infective endocarditis recurrence and death.
Results. We identified a significant association between PICC line misuse and infective endocarditis recurrence (OR=2.62, P=0.005). In addition, survival analyses showed that PICC line misuse increased both the rate of infective endocarditis recurrence (SHR=2.60, P=0.001) and mortality (HR=3.00, P=0.01).
Conclusion. PICC line misuse was associated with infective endocarditis recurrence and mortality. Preventative health interventions to target this high-risk group of patients need to be developed.