Tuberc Respir Dis.  2010 Mar;68(3):140-145. 10.4046/trd.2010.68.3.140.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in a University Teaching Hospital

• Chae JN
• Choi WI
• Park JH
• Rho BH
• Kim JB

• KMID: 1728958
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2010.68.3.140

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common clinical problem in the West that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic modality has been changed since 2001. This study retrospectively reviewed the PE mortality with the aim of identifying the risk factors associated with mortality since the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was introduced.
METHODS
We analyzed 105 patients with acute PE proven by multidetector CT or ventilation perfusion scan. The primary outcome measure was the all-cause mortality at 3 months. The prognostic effect of the baseline factors on survival was assessed by multivariate analysis.
RESULTS
The main risk factors were prolonged immobilization, stroke, cancer and obesity. Forty nine percent of patients had 3 or more risk factors. The overall mortality at 3 months was 18.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed low diastolic blood pressure and the existence of cancer to be independent factors significantly associated with mortality. Forty two PE patients were examined for the coagulation inhibitors. Four of these patients had a protein C deficiency (9.5%), and 11 had a protein S deficiency (26%).
CONCLUSION
PE is an important clinical problem with a high mortality rate. Close monitoring may be necessary in patients with the risk factors.

Keyword

Pulmonary Embolism; Venous Thrombosis; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Thrombophilia

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Immobilization
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Multivariate Analysis
Obesity
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Perfusion
Prognosis
Protein C Deficiency
Protein S Deficiency
Pulmonary Embolism
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Stroke
Thrombophilia
Venous Thrombosis
Ventilation

Figure

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  Figure 1 Distribution of disease by age and sex in 105 patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

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  Figure 2 All-cause cumulative mortality.

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