in the patients over 65 years old , compared to those under the age of 65 , we observed that : the previous condition of the cardiac valves was more commonly unknown ( 39 % compared to 21 % ) , rheumatic valvular disease was rare ( 12 % of cases ) , the diagnosis was not delayed , the reason for hospital admission was usually a complication ( 30 % compared to 7 % ) , the two cardinal signs ( pyrexia and a cardiac murmur ) were always present , as in the younger age group , the urinary tract was the only commoner site of primary infection , the blood cultures were as frequently positive in both groups ( 79 % compared to 85 % ) , in cases with negative blood cultures , antibiotics had not always been given beforehand , but this was commoner than in the younger age group , the causal organisms and usual biological changes were unremarkable , echocardiography , often more difficult because of the high incidence of valvular thickening , remained a valuable tool for diagnosis and management , cardiac failure was more common ( 55 % compared to 37 % ) as were neurological complications ( 24 % compared to 10 % ) and renal failure , mortality was greater ( 39 % compared to 25 % ) and higher in both groups in patients with aortic valve disease and infection with staph-aureus .
C0018799
condition
C0018801
cardiac