Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and deep vein thrombosis: a prevalent combination

Retrospective cohort study investigating synergism of air pollution and corticosteroid exposure in promoting cardiovascular and thromboembolic events in older adults

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the synergistic effects created by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and corticosteroid use on hospitalisation and mortality in older adults at high risk for cardiovascular thromboembolic events (CTEs).

DESIGN AND SETTING

A retrospective cohort study using a US nationwide administrative healthcare claims database.

PARTICIPANTS

A 50% random sample of participants with high-risk conditions for CTE from the 2008-2016 Medicare Fee-for-Service population.

EXPOSURES

Corticosteroid therapy and seasonal-average PM2.5.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidences of myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome (MI/ACS), ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, heart failure (HF), venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation and all-cause mortality. We assessed additive interactions between PM2.5 and corticosteroids using estimates of the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) obtained using marginal structural models for causal inference.

RESULTS

Among the 1 936 786 individuals in the high CTE risk cohort (mean age 76.8, 40.0% male, 87.4% white), the mean PM2.5 exposure level was 8.3±2.4 µg/m3 and 37.7% had at least one prescription for a systemic corticosteroid during follow-up. For all outcomes, we observed increases in risk associated with corticosteroid use and with increasing PM2.5 exposure. PM2.5 demonstrated a non-linear relationship with some outcomes. We also observed evidence of an interaction existing between corticosteroid use and PM2.5 for some CTEs. For an increase in PM2.5 from 8 μg/m3 to 12 μg/m3 (a policy-relevant change), the RERI of corticosteroid use and PM2.5 was significant for HF (15.6%, 95% CI 4.0%, 27.3%). Increasing PM2.5 from 5 μg/m3 to 10 μg/m3 yielded significant RERIs for incidences of HF (32.4; 95% CI 14.9%, 49.9%) and MI/ACSs (29.8%; 95% CI 5.5%, 54.0%).

CONCLUSION

PM2.5 and systemic corticosteroid use were independently associated with increases in CTE hospitalisations. We also found evidence of significant additive interactions between the two exposures for HF and MI/ACSs suggesting synergy between these two exposures.

Prevalence of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) increases the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). AECOPD combined with PE and DVT poses challenges for treatment and management. This necessitates prevention and management to estimate the overall prevalence of PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD and to identify the risk factors.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to January 9, 2021 and extracted the data from the included studies. The risk of bias was assessed for each study. We separately calculated the prevalence of PE and DVT in patients with AECOPD. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression analyses were performed to determine the sources of heterogeneity. Furthermore, we assessed the publication bias.

Results

The meta-analysis included 20 studies involving 5,854 people. The overall prevalence of PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD was 11% (95% CI: 0.06–0.17) and 9% (95% CI: 0.06–0.12), respectively. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of PE among patients with AECOPD was 12, 2, 7, and 16% in the European, South-East Asia, Western Pacific, and Eastern Mediterranean regions, respectively, and the DVT was 10, 9, 9, and 4%, respectively. The prevalence of PE among patients with AECOPD aged ≥ 70 and <70 years old was 6 and 15%, respectively, and the DVT was 8 and 9%, respectively. The prevalence of PE among patients with AECOPD diagnosed within 48 h and other times (beyond 48 h or not mentioned) was 16 and 6%, respectively, and DVT was 10 and 7%, respectively.

Conclusion

The pooled prevalence of PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD was insignificantly different between the different age groups and the WHO regions. However, the early diagnosis was associated with a higher prevalence of PE. Clinicians and the public need to further improve the awareness of prevention and management for PE and DVT among patients with AECOPD.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021260827.

Chronic diseases associated with increased likelihood of hospitalization and mortality in 68,913 COVID-19 confirmed cases in Spain: A population-based cohort study

Background

Clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients vary greatly with age and underlying comorbidities. We aimed to determine the demographic and clinical factors, particularly baseline chronic conditions, associated with an increased risk of severity in COVID-19 patients from a population-based perspective and using data from electronic health records (EHR).

Methods

Retrospective, observational study in an open cohort analyzing all 68,913 individuals (mean age 44.4 years, 53.2% women) with SARS-CoV-2 infection between 15 June and 19 December 2020 using exhaustive electronic health registries. Patients were followed for 30 days from inclusion or until the date of death within that period. We performed multivariate logistic regression to analyze the association between each chronic disease and severe infection, based on hospitalization and all-cause mortality.

Results

5885 (8.5%) individuals showed severe infection and old age was the most influencing factor. Congestive heart failure (odds ratio -OR- men: 1.28, OR women: 1.39), diabetes (1.37, 1.24), chronic renal failure (1.31, 1.22) and obesity (1.21, 1.26) increased the likelihood of severe infection in both sexes. Chronic skin ulcers (1.32), acute cerebrovascular disease (1.34), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.21), urinary incontinence (1.17) and neoplasms (1.26) in men, and infertility (1.87), obstructive sleep apnea (1.43), hepatic steatosis (1.43), rheumatoid arthritis (1.39) and menstrual disorders (1.18) in women were also associated with more severe outcomes.

Conclusions

Age and specific cardiovascular and metabolic diseases increased the risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections in men and women, whereas the effects of certain comorbidities are sex specific. Future studies in different settings are encouraged to analyze which profiles of chronic patients are at higher risk of poor prognosis and should therefore be the targets of prevention and shielding strategies.

Incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with both Pulmonary Embolism and COPD

Introduction.

There are no studies investigating populations of patients with both pulmonary embolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PE-COPD) with and without deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Aim of the study.

To define the prevalence of DVT in COPD with PE and to compare the characteristics of COPD patients who develop PE, with and without DVT. Secondly, we aimed to assess differences in the localization of PE among study groups.

Methods.

116 patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) were enrolled in a retrospective study. Clinical data as well as echocardiographic and lower limb ultrasonography records were collected for all subjects. Subjects were divided into two groups according to the presence of COPD: Group 1, 54 patients with diagnosis of PE without COPD and Group 2, 66 patients diagnosed of PE with COPD. Then, individuals of Group 2 were subdivided in two subgroups according to the presence (n=21) or absence (n=45) of DVT.

Results.

33% of patients with COPD and PE showed DVT. These subjects had higher PaCO2 and ejection fraction (p<0.05 for all) and higher percentage of chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus compared to those without DVT (p<0.05 for all). Moreover, in COPD-PE patients with DVT, the most frequent localization was proximal (54% of total), whereas COPD-PE patients without DVT showed a more frequent segmental localization (60% of total). No difference was found in clinical presentation and blood chemistry tests.

Conclusions.

DVT was non common in PE-COPD patients. Chronic renal failure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are more frequent in PE-COPD patients with DVT, that showed a higher frequency of proximal localization, thereby indicating a greater risk of more severe clinical implications. Conversely, PE- COPD subjects without DVT showed a more frequent segmental localization and were less hypercapnic. PE should be taken into account in COPD with worsening of respiratory symptoms, also in absence of DVT. (www.actabiomedica.it).

High Occurrence of Thrombo-Embolic Complications During Long-Term Follow-up After Pleural Infections-A Single-Center Experience with 536 Consecutive Patients Over 17 Years

Purpose

Pleural infections are associated with significant inflammation, long hospitalizations, frequent comorbidities, and are often treated operatively—all of which are consequential risk factors for thrombo-embolic complications. However, their occurrence following the treatment of pleural infection is still unknown. The aim of the study was to ascertain the early and long-term occurrence of thrombo-embolic events in patients treated for pleural infections.

Methods

The study included all patients that were treated for pleural infections in Tampere University Hospital between January 2000 and December 2016. Data regarding later treatment episodes due to pulmonary embolisms and/or deep vein thromboses as well as survival data were requested from national registries. The rates were also compared to a demographically matched reference population adjusted for age, sex, and the location of residence.

Results

The final study population comprised 536 patients and 5318 controls (median age 60, 78% men). The most common etiology for pleural infection was pneumonia (73%) and 85% underwent surgical treatment for pleural infection. The occurrence of thrombo-embolic complications in patients and controls was 3.8% vs 0.1% at three months, 5.0% vs 0.4% at one year, 8.8% vs 1.0% at three years, and 12.4% vs 1.8% at five years, respectively, p < 0.001 each. Female sex, advanced age, chronic lung disease, immunosuppression, video-assisted surgery, and non-pneumonic etiology were associated with a higher incidence of thrombo-embolism.

Conclusions

The occurrence of thrombo-embolic events—particularly pulmonary embolism but also deep vein thrombosis—was significant in patients treated for pleural infections, both initially and during long-term follow-up.

The Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Asian Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Most studies have focused on the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute exacerbation in Caucasian populations. DVT is supposedly less likely to occur among Asians than Caucasians, and the primary purpose of this study was to determine the actual incidence of DVT in patients with COPD in Asian populations.We enrolled patients over the age of 40 with a diagnosis of COPD (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9]: 490-492, 496; A-code: A323 and A325) between 1998 and 2008. The index date was the date of first-time COPD diagnosis. We excluded the patients who had been diagnosed with COPD and DVT (The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM]: 453.8) before index date. The control group was frequency-matched according to age (3-year stratum), sex, and the year of admission, at a 2:1 ratio. Patients were followed from index date to when either a diagnosis of DVT was made, death occurred, December 31, 2009 was reached, or when the patients withdrew from the National Health Insurance program.The overall incidence rate of DVT was 18.78 per 10,000 person-years in patients with COPD, and the adjusted hazard ration of DVT in patients with COPD was 1.38 (95% confidence interval 1.06-1.80), which was greater than patients without COPD after adjusting for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, lower leg fracture or surgery, and cancer.Asian patients with COPD had a higher incidence of DVT than non-COPD patients.

Hypoxia Induces a Prothrombotic State Independently of the Physical Activity

Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is known to be associated with deep vein thrombosis and venous thromboembolism. We attempted to get a better comprehension of its mechanism by going to high altitude, thereby including the potential contributing role of physical activity. Two groups of 15 healthy individuals were exposed to hypoxia by going to an altitude of 3900 meters, either by climbing actively (active group) or transported passively by cable car (passive group). Both groups were tested for plasma fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and factor VIII levels, fibrinolysis, thrombin generating capacity, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels and blood pressure. As a control for the passive group, 7 healthy volunteers stayed immobile in bed for 7 days at normoxic conditions. The heart rate increased and oxygen saturation levels decreased with increasing altitude. Fibrinolysis and fibrinogen levels were not affected. Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels levels increased significantly in the active group, but not in the passive group. Plasma thrombin generation remained unchanged in both the active and passive group with increasing altitude and during 7 days of immobility in healthy subjects. However, by applying whole blood thrombin generation, we found an increased peak height and endogenous thrombin potential, and a decreased lagtime and time-to-peak with increasing levels of hypoxia in both groups. In conclusion, by applying whole blood thrombin generation we demonstrated that hypoxia causes a prothrombotic state. As thrombin generation in plasma did not increase, our results suggest that the cellular part of the blood is involved in the prothrombotic phenotype induced by hypoxia.

Pulmonary embolism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Taiwan.

METHODS

This was a retrospective population-based cohort study using data retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000 to 2008), which contains 99% of Taiwanese healthcare data. The evaluations included 355,878 COPD patients and 355,878 non-COPD patients for comparison.

RESULTS

The incidence of PE in the COPD cohort was 12.31 per 10,000 person-years (1.37/10,000 persons/y), which was approximately 4-times higher than in the comparison cohort (0.35/10,000 persons/y). In the COPD cohort, risk of PE was higher in the young age group (20-59 y, HR 4.64, 95% CI 3.06-7.03) than in other age groups. Risk of PE was higher in patients with COPD combined with hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cancer, or those with previous operation (HR 4.16, 4.75, 4.56, and 4.50 respectively) than in those with COPD and no comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of PE is lower in Taiwan than in western countries. However, the prevalence of PE in COPD patients is higher than in non-COPD patients and increases with age. It is crucial to incorporate PE into the differential diagnosis of COPD exacerbation for clinical physicians.

Carbon monoxide poisoning and risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Few studies have investigated the relationship between carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Therefore, we conducted a nationwide longitudinal cohort study in Taiwan to determine whether patients with CO poisoning are associated with increased risk of developing DVT and PE.

METHODS

This study investigated the incidence and risk factors for DVT and PE in 8316 patients newly diagnosed with CO poisoning from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2011. The comparison cohort contained 33 264 controls without CO poisoning from the general population. Follow-up was initiated on the date of initial diagnosis of CO poisoning and continued until the date of a DVT or PE event, censoring or December 31, 2011. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyse the risk of DVT and PE according to sex, age and comorbidities.

RESULTS

The incidences of DVT and PE were higher in the patients with CO poisoning than in the controls (5.67 vs 1.47/10 000 person-years and 1.97 vs 1.02/10 000 person-years, respectively). After adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities, the patients with CO poisoning were associated with a 3.85-fold higher risk of DVT compared with the comparison cohort, and non-significantly associated with risk of PE. CO poisoning patients with a coexisting comorbidity or acute respiratory failure were associated with significantly and substantially increased risk of DVT.

CONCLUSION

Risk of DVT is significantly higher in patients with CO poisoning than in the general population.

Causes and patterns of readmissions in patients with common comorbidities: retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the primary diagnoses and patterns of 30 day readmissions and potentially avoidable readmissions in medical patients with each of the most common comorbidities.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Academic tertiary medical centre in Boston, 2009-10.

PARTICIPANTS

10,731 consecutive adult discharges from a medical department.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary readmission diagnoses of readmissions within 30 days of discharge and potentially avoidable 30 day readmissions to the index hospital or two other hospitals in its network.

RESULTS

Among 10,731 discharges, 2398 (22.3%) were followed by a 30 day readmission, of which 858 (8.0%) were identified as potentially avoidable. Overall, infection, neoplasm, heart failure, gastrointestinal disorder, and liver disorder were the most frequent primary diagnoses of potentially avoidable readmissions. Almost all of the top five diagnoses of potentially avoidable readmissions for each comorbidity were possible direct or indirect complications of that comorbidity. In patients with a comorbidity of heart failure, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, or chronic kidney disease, the most common diagnosis of potentially avoidable readmission was acute heart failure. Patients with neoplasm, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease had a higher risk of potentially avoidable readmissions than did those without those comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

The five most common primary diagnoses of potentially avoidable readmissions were usually possible complications of an underlying comorbidity. Post-discharge care should focus attention not just on the primary index admission diagnosis but also on the comorbidities patients have.

Pulmonary embolism and 3-month outcomes in 4036 patients with venous thromboembolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: data from the RIETE registry

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a modified clinical presentation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) but also a worse prognosis than non-COPD patients with VTE. As it may induce therapeutic modifications, we evaluated the influence of the initial VTE presentation on the 3-month outcomes in COPD patients.

METHODS

COPD patients included in the on-going world-wide RIETE Registry were studied. The rate of pulmonary embolism (PE), major bleeding and death during the first 3 months in COPD patients were compared according to their initial clinical presentation (acute PE or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)).

RESULTS

Of the 4036 COPD patients included, 2452 (61%; 95% CI: 59.2-62.3) initially presented with PE. PE as the first VTE recurrence occurred in 116 patients, major bleeding in 101 patients and mortality in 443 patients (Fatal PE: first cause of death). Multivariate analysis confirmed that presenting with PE was associated with higher risk of VTE recurrence as PE (OR, 2.04; 95% CI: 1.11-3.72) and higher risk of fatal PE (OR, 7.77; 95% CI: 2.92-15.7).

CONCLUSIONS

COPD patients presenting with PE have an increased risk for PE recurrences and fatal PE compared with those presenting with DVT alone. More efficient therapy is needed in this subtype of patients.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to compare the clinical characteristics, prophylaxis, treatment, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in patients with and without previously diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

METHODS

We analyzed the population-based Worcester Venous Thromboembolism Study of 2488 consecutive patients with validated venous thromboembolism to compare clinical characteristics, prophylaxis, treatment, and outcomes in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

RESULTS

Of 2488 patients with venous thromboembolism, 484 (19.5%) had a history of clinical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 2004 (80.5%) did not. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were older (mean age 68 vs 63 years) and had a higher frequency of heart failure (35.5% vs 12.9%) and immobility (53.5% vs 43.3%) than patients without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (all P<.0001). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were more likely to die in hospital (6.8% vs 4%, P=.01) and within 30 days of venous thromboembolism diagnosis (12.6% vs 6.5%, P<.0001). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease demonstrated increased mortality despite a higher frequency of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Immobility doubled the risk of in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-3.62) and death within 30 days of venous thromboembolism diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.91).

CONCLUSION

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have an increased risk of dying during hospitalization and within 30 days of venous thromboembolism diagnosis. Immobility in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an ominous risk factor for adverse outcomes.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

The majority of epidemiological studies demonstrate an increased risk of venous thromboembolism among diabetic patients. Our aim was to compare clinical characteristics, prophylaxis, treatment, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in patients with and without previously diagnosed diabetes.

METHODS

We studied diabetic patients in the population-based Worcester Venous Thromboembolism Study of 2488 consecutive patients with validated venous thromboembolism.

RESULTS

Of 2488 venous thromboembolism patients, 476 (19.1%) had a clinical history of diabetes. Thromboprophylaxis was omitted in more than one third of diabetic patients who had been hospitalized for non-venous-thromboembolism-related illness or had undergone major surgery within 3 months before diagnosis. Patients with diabetes were more likely than nondiabetic patients to have a complicated course after venous thromboembolism. Patients with diabetes were more likely than patients without diabetes to suffer recurrent deep vein thrombosis (14.9% vs 10.7%) and long-term major bleeding complications (16.4% vs 11.7%) (all P=.01). Diabetes was associated with a significant increase in the risk of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-2.51). Aspirin therapy at discharge (AOR 1.59; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3) and chronic kidney disease (AOR 2.19; 95% CI, 1.44-3.35) were independent predictors of long-term major bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Patients with diabetes who developed venous thromboembolism were more likely to suffer a complicated clinical course. Diabetes was an independent predictor of recurrent deep vein thrombosis. We observed a low rate of thromboprophylaxis in diabetic patients. Further studies should focus on venous thromboembolism prevention in this vulnerable population.

AssessMent of ProphylAxis for VenouS ThromboembolIsm in Hospitalized Patients

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) accounts for several cases of in-hospital mortality (over 100 000 deaths annually in the West). Despite the existence of effective prophylaxis guidelines for at-risk patients, the guidelines adherence is missing. Methods: We evaluated the thromboprophylaxis reception and appropriateness based on the eighth edition of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines on VTE prophylaxis, among hospitalized patients of a World Health Organization (WHO)-collaborating teaching hospital in a 3-month period. Results: From the 904 evaluated cases, 481 entered the study. Appropriate decision on whether to prophylaxe or not, was made in 305 (63.40%), however, complete appropriateness (considering correct regimen type, dosing, and duration) was seen only in 229 patients (47.60%). The ACCP risk for VTE was the strongest predictor of thromboprophylaxis prescription (odds ratio [OR]: 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-5.05). Conclusions: Our thromboprophylaxis results were comparable to that of Western countries. Improved thromboprophylaxis appropriateness, which requires improving the physicians' thromboprophylaxis awareness and knowledge, could reduce the rate of in-hospital VTE and translate into better patient care.

Liver cirrhosis is associated with venous thromboembolism among hospitalized patients in a nationwide US study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Studies on the impact of liver disease on venous thromboembolism (VTE) have produced conflicting results. We assessed the risk of VTE in patients with compensated or decompensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

Data on hospital discharges of patients with liver cirrhosis and a random sample of control patients (without liver disease, 1%) were analyzed from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998-2006). Prevalence of VTE was compared among patients with and without cirrhosis. The impact of VTE on in-hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS) was assessed.

RESULTS

After multivariate adjustment, patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis were at higher risk of VTE until the age of 45 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.46 and OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.15-1.69, respectively). After 45 years of age, compensated cirrhosis was associated with a modest decrease in adjusted odds of VTE (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.95) whereas decompensated cirrhosis was not associated with higher risk of VTE (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.91-1.04). VTE was associated with increased mortality among patients with compensated cirrhosis (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.96-2.38) or decompensated cirrhosis (OR, 1.66, 95% CI, 1.47-1.87). VTE was associated with a 103% increase in length of stay (95% CI, 95%-111% increase) among patients with compensated cirrhosis and an 86% increase (95% CI, 78%-94% increase) among those with decompensated cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with cirrhosis under the age of 45 years are at higher risk for VTE that those without liver disease and should be considered for VTE prophylaxis.

Venous thromboembolic events in hospitalised medical patients

The number of acutely ill hospitalised medical patients at risk for acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been well defined. Therefore, we used the 2003 United States Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to estimate VTE events among hospitalised medical patients. We then modeled the potential reduction in VTE with universal utilisation of appropriate pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. We calculated that 8,077,919 acutely ill hospitalised medical patients were at risk for VTE. Heart failure, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and cancer were the most common medical diagnoses. We estimated that 196,134 VTE-related events occurred in 2003, afflicting two out of every 100 acutely ill hospitalised medical patients. These VTE-related events were comprised of 122,235 symptomatic deep venous thromboses, 32,654 symptomatic episodes of pulmonary embolism, and 41,245 deaths due to VTE. In our model, rates of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis prescription were low for various acute medical illnesses, ranging from 15.3% to 49.2%. However, with universal thromboprophylaxis, 114,174 VTE-related events would have been prevented. In conclusion, acutely ill medical patients represent a large population vulnerable to the development of VTE during hospitalisation. The number of VTE-related events would be halved with universal thromboprophylaxis. Further efforts focused on improving VTE prevention strategies in hospitalised medical patients are warranted.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism]

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is often complicated by the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some studies have suggested that patients with PE and concomitant COPD have a worse prognosis than patients without COPD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Outpatients diagnosed with acute symptomatic PE at a university tertiary care hospital were prospectively included in the study. Clinical characteristics, time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, and outcome were analyzed according to presence or absence of COPD. The primary endpoint was all-cause deaths at 3 months.

RESULTS

Of 882 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acute symptomatic PE, 8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6%-9%) had COPD. Patients with COPD were significantly more likely to have a delay in diagnosis of more than 3 days and to have a low pretest probability of pulmonary embolism according to a standardized clinical score. The total number of deaths during 3 months of follow-up was 128 (14%; 95% CI, 12%-17%). Factors significantly associated with mortality from all causes were a history of cancer or immobilization, systolic blood pressure less than 100mm Hg, and arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation less than 90%. COPD was significantly associated with PE-related death in the logistic regression analysis (relative risk, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-5.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with COPD and PE more often have a lower pretest probability and a longer delay in diagnosis of PE. COPD is significantly associated with PE-related death in the 3 months following diagnosis.

Prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism in older people

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), collectively called venous thromboembolism (VTE), increases with age and has been reported to be higher in males. The annual incidence rates per 1000 for DVT and PE are 1.3 and 1.8, respectively, for people aged between 65 and 69 years, rising to 2.8 and 3.1, respectively, in those aged between 85 and 89 years. Older people are about eight times more likely to develop VTE in hospitals, nursing homes or other chronic care facilities than younger adults. About 1.7% develop PE within one year of treatment for DVT, whilst the one year recurrence rate for PE was 8.0%. About 3% of patients with DVT and 21% of those with PE die in hospital. One year mortality with DVT is 21% and that with PE is 39%.