Clinical characteristics and outcomes of infective endocarditis in patients with cancer: A multicenter case-control study.

Background: Due to increased exposure to health hazards, patients with cancer are at a higher risk of developing infective endocarditis (IE), which in turn maximizes their risk of poor outcomes. This study aimed to analyze IE events in patients with cancer and matched controls.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study in four third-level centers in Mexico City between 2006 and 2022. Patients with IE were identified; cases (patients with cancer) were matched in a 1:2 ratio with controls (patients without cancer). Baseline characteristics, factors associated with IE, and outcomes were assessed in both groups.

Results: A total of 108 patients were included (36 cases and 72 controls). After logistic regression analysis, the risk factors independently associated with IE in cases were obesity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.03, 95 % CI 1.5-51.8), surgery within six months before IE (aOR 6.23, 95 % CI 1.8-21.5), and invasive procedures within six months prior to IE (aOR 3.89, 95 % CI 1.15-13.1). Healthcare-associated IE was more common in these cases, as were systemic embolic episodes. Subjects with S. aureus IE were more prone to experience systemic embolization. There were no differences in mortality between the groups.

Conclusion: In this study, risk factors associated with the healthcare environment were more frequent in patients with IE and cancer. S. aureus was a common culprit and was associated with systemic embolization.