IMPORTANCE:

Prophylaxis and treatment guidelines for infective endocarditis have changed substantially over the past decade. In the United States, few population-based studies have explored the contemporary epidemiology and outcomes of endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE:

To quantify trends in the incidence and etiologies of infective endocarditis in the United States.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:

Retrospective population epidemiology study of patients hospitalized with a first episode of endocarditis identified from mandatory state databases in California and New York State between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2013.

EXPOSURE:

Infective endocarditis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:

Outcomes were crude and standardized incidence of endocarditis and trends in patient characteristics and disease etiology. Trends in acquisition mode, organism, and mortality were analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:

In California and New York State, the overall standardized incidence of infective endocarditis was stable from 1998 through 2013, with changes in patient characteristics and etiology over this time.