Obesity as a Risk Factor among Hospitalized Patients with Infective Endocarditis

Abstract

Objective: Obesity contributes to diagnostic and management challenges for many hospitalized patients. The impact of obesity on in-hospital outcomes in patients with infective endocarditis has not been studied and was the focus of this investigation. Method: We used the 2013 and 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify adults ≥18 years of age with a principle diagnosis of endocarditis. We divided the sample into 2 groups based on presence of absence of obesity. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analysis was used to compare in-hospital mortality, valvular replacement, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization charges. Results: A total of 24 494 adults 18 years and older were hospitalized with infective endocarditis, of which 2625 were classified as obese. Patients with obesity were older (mean age, 57.8 ± 0.3 vs 54.3 ± 0.6 years; P