The U.S. has made almost no progress on infective endocarditis (IE) mortality over the past quarter century, and for some groups, things have actually gotten worse. A new retrospective study found that while the national death rate barely shifted from 1999 to 2024, younger adults, men, and people in non-metropolitan areas saw rising mortality. Researchers point to injection drug use and pandemic-era healthcare disruptions as likely contributors.
The U.S. has made almost no meaningful progress in reducing deaths from infective endocarditis (IE) over the past 25 years — and for certain populations, the situation has actually deteriorated. A retrospective study using CDC WONDER mortality data, presented at IDWeek, found that the national age-adjusted IE mortality rate barely moved, going from 4.2 to 4.1 per 100,000 people between 1999 and 2024. Beneath that flat headline number, however, lies a more troubling picture.
Subgroup analysis revealed stark disparities: younger and middle-aged adults, men, and people living in non-metropolitan areas all experienced rising IE mortality over the study period. Researchers flagged injection-drug-use-associated IE and pandemic-era healthcare disruptions — including patients avoiding care and increased medical complexity post-COVID — as likely drivers of the worsening trends.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: National averages can mask serious inequities. These findings underscore the urgent need for early diagnosis, multidisciplinary care teams, addiction medicine integration, and improved access to specialized care in rural and underserved communities.
