**4. IE risk factors in dialysis patients**

Dialysis is a well-established risk factor for IE. Mylonakis et al. reported that end-stage renal disease in HD patients has a higher rate of morbidity and mortality compared to general population. Infections are the major cause of morbidity and mortality and are the second leading cause of death in HD patients surpassed only by cardiovascular disease. And these occur in about 12–22% of ESRD patients [15–17].

The mortality rate in patients with IE ranges from 30 to 56% in one year and in-hospital mortality is twice more frequent than the general population with IE.
