Substance Use Disorder Raises Risk Of Death After Valve Surgery For Heart Infection

People with substance use disorder were 2.41 times more likely to die after undergoing valve surgery for endocarditis than people without substance use disorder. In a group of 228 people who had this operation, 86 died. The mortality rate at six months to five years after the surgery among those with substance use disorder was 48%, compared to 32% for those without substance use disorder.

Across the group of 228, 35% (80 individuals) had substance use disorder. During the study period, the overall mortality rate was 38%. Additional findings were as follows:

The average age of the 80 individuals . . .