Prospective Evaluation of the Systemic Coagulation–Inflammation Index as a Short-Term Prognostic Marker in Infective Endocarditis

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains associated with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in diagnosis and therapy. Biomarkers that integrate inflammatory and coagulation pathways may assist in risk stratification. The Systemic Coagulation–Inflammation Index (SCII), calculated as (platelet count × fibrinogen / leukocyte count), reflects the interaction between systemic inflammation and coagulation activity. This study evaluated the utility of SCII as a short-term prognostic marker in patients with IE.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 26 consecutive adults diagnosed with IE at a tertiary care center in India were enrolled over a six-month period. SCII values were calculated from admission blood samples obtained prior to treatment initiation. Patients were followed throughout hospitalization, and mortality outcomes were recorded.

Results: The mean age of the cohort was 50.08 years, and 53.85% were male. Overall mortality during follow-up was 50% (13/26). Mean SCII was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (176.2 ± 26.1 vs. 89.4 ± 20.7; p < 0.001). A strong association was observed between SCII and mortality (r = 0.77, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Elevated SCII at admission was significantly associated with short-term mortality in patients with IE. These findings suggest that SCII may serve as a useful adjunct for early risk stratification in IE. Larger studies with multivariate analyses are warranted to determine its independent predictive value and clinical applicability.