Sex-specific differences in infective endocarditis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical profiles and management outcomes

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) presents significant morbidity and mortality, with potential sex differences in clinical profile and outcomes. This is the first meta-analysis that aims to compare the clinical profile and outcomes of IE between males and females. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of nine studies evaluating the clinical profile and outcomes of IE in males versus females extracted from PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases up to 1st of Jan 2024. Results: Our meta-analysis revealed notable sex differences in the incidence and complications of IE. Males exhibited a higher incidence of aortic valve IE (RR 1.57, 95 % CI [1.31, 1.88]), surgical indications for IE (RR 1.38, [1.12, 1.70]), Streptococci infection (RR 1.36, [1.04, 1.77]), intracardiac abscess (RR 1.22, [1.05, 1.42]), and Enterococci IE (RR 1.44, [1.28, 1.61]). In contrast, females had a higher incidence of mitral valve IE (RR 0.79, [0.67, 0.94]) and a higher in-hospital mortality rate (RR 0.84, [0.74, 0.96]). No significant sex differences were found in the incidence of valve vegetations, tricuspid valve IE, embolization, and Staphylococcus IE. Inhospital stay was longer in male patients, however, with borderline significance (RR 3.15, [-0.16, 6.45], p = 0.06). In patients who underwent surgery for IE, mortality rates were significantly lower in male patients (RR: 0.67 [0.59, 0.76], p < 0.01). Conclusions: Compared to females, males exhibit higher rates of aortic valve IE, intracardiac abscess, streptococci IE, enterococci IE and IE-related surgery indication. In contrast, females have higher rates of mitral valve IE and in-hospital mortality.