ABSTRACT
Native Valve Infective Endocarditis Native valve infective endocarditis is more common in males and patients older than 65 years. The age-and sex-adjusted incidence rate of infective endocarditis is 5 to 7 cases per 100,000 person-years. Increasingly, degenerative valvular disease and mitral valve prolapse predominate as risks for development of endocarditis. However, endocarditis has developed in increasing numbers of patients without known cardiac disease. The mitral and aortic valves are most commonly involved. Mitral valve prolapse, bicuspid aortic valves, and aortic sclerosis now predominate as the underlying lesions in the absence of prosthetic materials.
