Infective Endocarditis in Pregnancy During the Opioid Epidemic [16E

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To compare the incidence and complications of infective endocarditis among opioid-using pregnant women from 2006–08 and 2016–18. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of hospitalizations using a publicly available, all-payer inpatient database in Kentucky. Duplicate patients were identified and removed. RESULTS: From 2006–08, 187,178 hospitalizations involved pregnancy of which 1,311 were diagnosed with opioid dependence, use, or abuse. Three of these women had ICD codes for endocarditis (0.23%). From 2016–18, 166,756 hospitalizations involved pregnancy, of which 5,222 were diagnosed with opioid dependence, use, or abuse (+398%). Three of these patients had rheumatic disease, leaving 37 patients (0.71%) with endocarditis related to their opioid use alone, P=.047. The 2016–18 population with endocarditis were white (100%); lived primarily in metropolitan counties (61%); and 57.1% were less than 30 years old. 11% of admissions were in the 1st trimester, 16.2% in the 2nd, 43.2% in the 3rd, and 16.2% postpartum, P=.012. 14% had a spontaneous or missed abortion. The median length of stay was 22.5 days. Ten deliveries were complicated by endocarditis, six by cesarean section. Five women underwent valvular surgery in 2016–18: four valve replacements and one total valve excision. Of the hospitalizations with a maternal mortality for 2016–18, three were complicated by endocarditis. CONCLUSION: A four-fold increase in hospitalization complicated by opioid use was observed as well as a significant increase in the rate of infective endocarditis in this population. Endocarditis contributed to maternal mortality, life-threatening morbidities, prolonged hospital stay, and increased cost.