Infective endocarditis in the older adult: an emerging entity in need of a specific approach

Abstract

The incidence of infective endocarditis is rising in all age groups, but the largest relative increase takes place in elderly adults over 70 years of age, a subgroup that is becoming a substantial part of the general population. Elderly infective endocarditis patients require adapted care owing to their specific profile, which influences the interval between symptom onset and diagnosis, type of microorganism, complications and therapeutic decision making, all factors that have a significant impact on outcome. In this article, we provide a summary of the important caveats in the management of elderly infective endocarditis patients known to date, and indicate topics that require further investigation.