Risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with COVID-19: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Impact of a Clinical Decision Support System on CT Pulmonary Angiography Yield and Utilization in Hospitalized Patients

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to determine whether point-of-order clinical decision support (CDS) based on the Wells criteria improves CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) yield and utilization in hospitalized patients in an enterprise-wide health system and to identify yield-related factors.

METHODS

This retrospective, institutional review board-approved, cross-sectional study in an urban, multi-institution health system included hospitalized patients undergoing CTPA 12 months before and after CDS implementation (entire cohort). The χ2 test was used to compare pulmonary embolism (PE) yield in patients in whom providers overrode versus followed CDS alerts after CDS implementation. It was also used to compare utilization and yield before- versus after the intervention. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed on patient factors and post-CDS Wells scores to evaluate yield-related factors.

RESULTS

For 2,429 inpatient CT pulmonary angiographic examinations after the intervention, CTPA yield was significantly higher when CDS recommendations were followed (18.3% [250 of 1,365]) compared with those overridden (14.2% [151 of 1,064]) (P < .01). For 5,372 CT pulmonary angiographic examinations in the entire cohort, there was no difference in PE yield before (448 of 2,943 [15.2%]) versus after (401 of 2,429 [16.5%]) CDS implementation (P = .20). However, in 340,146 admissions over the study period, a 7.4% relative decrease in CTPA utilization (from 17.5 to 16.2 CT pulmonary angiographic examinations per 1,000 admissions before and after CDS, respectively, P = .003) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

When CDS recommendations were followed, the yield of CTPA was significantly higher than when clinicians overrode CDS alerts. In addition, point-of-order CDS to reduce unnecessary CTPA in hospitalized patients resulted in a significant decrease in CTPA utilization after CDS implementation, with a modest although nonsignificant increase in CTPA yield.

Cardiovascular disease risk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To our knowledge, there is no systematic review examining CVD risks after a SARS-CoV-2 infection over time, while also taking into account disease severity. All evidence on the risk for pulmonary embolism (PE), myocardial infarction (MI), ischaemic stroke (IS), haemorrhagic stroke (HS), and arterial thrombosis following infection was evaluated.

METHODS

The protocol was registered with PROSPERO. We searched Pubmed, Embase, MedRxiv and screened the titles/abstracts and full texts. We extracted the included studies, assessed their quality, and estimated pooled risks by time after infection and according to disease severity.

RESULTS

Risks were highest in the acute phase [PE: 27.1 (17.8-41.10); MI: 4.4 (1.6-12.4); stroke: 3.3 (2.1-5.2); IS: 5.6 (2.1-14.8); HS: 4.0 (0.1-326.2)] compared to the post-acute phase [PE: 2.9 (2.6-3.3); MI: 1.4 (1.1-1.9); stroke: 1.4 (1.0-2.0); IS: 1.6 (0.9-2.7)]. Highest risks were observed after infection confirmation, dropping during the first month post-infection (e.g. PE: RR(7 days) = 31; RR(1 month) = 8.1). A doubled risk was still observed until 4.5 months for PE, one month for MI and two months for IS. Risks decreased with decreasing disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of increased risk of CVD outcomes, management of persons who survived a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is required, especially during the first nine months post-infection.

COVID-19 associated pulmonary embolism: clinical, biochemical and CT imaging findings

INTRODUCTION

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection represented a disruptive pathology that emerged in late 2019 with profound implications ranging from individual health to health systems and world economy. Our study aimed to evaluate clinical, biochemical and computerized tomography (CT) parameters values in determining the severity of pulmonary embolism (PE) associated with COVID-19.

METHODS

We performed an observational cohort study evaluating demographic, clinical, biochemical, coagulation markers, as well as CT imaging parameters.

RESULTS

In our study on 186 patients with COVID-19, we found that 31 patients (16,66%) had pulmonary embolism. Significant correlations for the patients with PE were detected in C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, serum ferritin, IL-6, serum myoglobin, NT-proBNP, D-dimers, serum proteins, transaminases as well as white cell blood counts. Patients with pulmonary embolism had a more severe lung involvement, with thrombi distribution mainly involving the lower lobes.

CONCLUSION

Early identification of PE is an important step for timely and efficient treatment in the intensive care management of COVID-19 patients. Our study showed that high plasmatic values of lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, IL-6, white blood cells and D-dimers and low proteins serum levels are strongly linked with COVID-19-associated pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism impacts clinical outcomes of intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome related to COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism (PE) in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 is a major complication which might impact survival. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PE and assess its impact of PE on clinical outcomes in intubated patients with ARDS due to COVID-19.

METHODS

All intubated patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Geneva University Hospitals between March 9, 2020, and May 31, 2022, were included. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the occurrence of PE and its association with clinical outcomes. The primary outcome was ventilator-free days during the first 28 days after ICU admission. Linear regressions were performed to investigate the association between PE and outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the 370 intubated patients with ARDS related to COVID-19, 58 (15.7%) presented with PE. Patients with PE had significantly fewer ventilator-free days than patients without PE (median (IQR) of 3 (0-11) days versus 12 (0-19) days; p < 0.001). Mortality did not differ significantly between groups (12/58 [20.7%] of patients with PE versus 71/312 [22.8%] of patients without PE; p = 0.72). Duration of IMV, and ICU and hospital LOS were significantly longer among patients with PE. The need for ECMO support was similar among both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of PE in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 had a significant impact on clinical outcomes. They had fewer ventilator-free days, longer duration of IMV, and longer ICU and hospital lengths of stay. However, pulmonary embolism was not associated with higher mortality.

ETHICS APPROVAL

Ethical committee of Geneva (BASEC #: 2020-00917).

Trends in admissions for COVID-19 in the United States between April 2020 and December 2021 and cardiovascular events

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to cardiovascular complications. We aimed to understand the trends in admission for COVID-19 and the incidence of various cardiovascular events.

Material and methods

The 2020 and 2021 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was studied for cases of COVID-19 between April 2020 and December 2021 in the United States. Linear-by-linear association helped us understand the trends of various events.

Results

The number of cases of COVID-19 was highest in January 2021 (261,469 patients). The incidence of acute pulmonary embolism rose from 2.08% in April 2020 to 4.82% in November 2021, while deep vein thrombosis cases rose from 1.74% in April 2020 to 2.63% in December 2021. The incidence of cardiac arrest varied, with a maximum of 3.00% in August 2021. Similarly, acute ischemic stroke cases experienced their highest incidence in January 2021 (0.91%). The incidence of myocarditis was highest in April and May 2020 (0.42% each). Peak takotsubo cases were seen between October and December 2021. The highest overall all-cause mortality among COVID-19 cases was seen in April 2020 (16.74%).

Conclusions

Throughout the 21 months of our analysis, various trends in COVID-19 cases and incidence of cardiac events were noticed. This could relate to the different variants of COVID-19, their direct and indirect impact on coagulation pathways and the myocardial tissues, and the protective roles of the vaccines.

Successfully conservative management of the uterus in acute pulmonary embolism during cesarean section for placenta previa: a case report from Tu Du Hospital, Vietnam and literature review

BACKGROUND

Cardiopulmonary collapse is a catastrophic event in cesarean section, which leads to adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. Pulmonary embolism is one of the rare etiologies of this entity. We herein reported the successful management of acute embolism pulmonary associated with cesarean delivery on a healthy pregnant woman at our tertiary referral hospital.

CASE PRESENTATION

A full-term pregnant woman hospitalized for planned cesarean delivery due to placenta previa without cardiorespiratory diseases. She was scheduled uneventfully for a planned cesarean section. After placental delivery, the patient spontaneously fell into cardiopulmonary collapse and her vital signs deteriorated rapidly. The obstetricians promptly completed the cesarean section and performed all procedures to prevent the PPH and preserve the uterus. At the same time, the anesthesiologists continued to carry out advanced heart-lung resuscitation in order to control her vital signs. After surgery, the multidisciplinary team assessed the patient and found a thrombus in her pulmonary circulation. Therefore, the patient was managed with therapeutic anticoagulation. The patient recovered in good clinical condition and was discharged after 2 weeks without any complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism is extremely difficult due to uncommon occurrence, sudden onset, and non-specific presentation. Awareness of this life-threatening pathology during cesarean delivery should be raised. Interdisciplinary assessment must be essentially established in this life-threatening condition. After the whole conventional management, uterine conservation may be acceptable where applicable. Further data is required to encourage this finding.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in patients with pneumonia in the pre-COVID-19 era: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Background

Elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia has been recognized, while the risk factors associated with VTE in patients with non-COVID-19 pneumonia remain to be defined. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify potential risk factors for VTE in patients with pneumonia from the pre-COVID-19 era.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched. Two reviewers performed screening, full-text review, and extraction. Risk factors and odds ratio (OR) were estimated.

Results

Of 595 articles identified, six studies were included. Pooled analysis suggested that age ≥60 years [OR =2.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.55-2.97, P<0.001], mechanical ventilation (MV) (OR =9.48, 95% CI: 8.24-10.91, P<0.001), hypertension (OR =1.41, 95% CI: 1.09-1.83, P=0.010), diabetes (OR =1.49, 95% CI: 1.36-1.64, P<0.001), heart failure (OR =3.15, 95% CI: 1.05-9.41, P=0.040) and cancer (OR =2.86, 95% CI: 2.07-3.95, P<0.001) were associated with higher risk for deep vein thrombosis in patients with pneumonia. While age ≥60 years (OR =2.46, 95% CI: 2.21-2.73, P<0.001), bacterial pneumonia (OR =3.80, 95% CI: 1.65-8.73, P=0.002), hyperlipidemia (OR =1.55, 95% CI: 1.00-2.41, P=0.049), heart failure (OR =2.70, 95% CI: 2.05-3.56, P<0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR =4.73, 95% CI: 3.11-7.17, P<0.001) and cancer (OR =2.90, 95% CI: 2.39-3.53, P<0.001) were risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with pneumonia.

Conclusions

Patients with non-COVID-19 pneumonia, particularly those with advanced age, MV, cardiovascular comorbidities or cancer, warrant individualized management during hospitalization. Our findings could contribute to refining risk prediction models and further risk stratification for VTE in patients with pneumonia in clinical practice.

Incidence and severity of pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 infection: Ancestral, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants

Little information is available regarding incidence and severity of pulmonary embolism (PE) across the periods of ancestral strain, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and severity of PE over the dominant periods of ancestral strain and Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. We hypothesized that the incidence and the severity by proximity of PE in patients with the newer variants and vaccination would be decreased compared with those in ancestral and earlier variants. Patients with COVID-19 diagnosis between March 2020 and February 2022 and computed tomography pulmonary angiogram performed within a 6-week window around the diagnosis (-2 to +4 weeks) were studied retrospectively. The primary endpoints were the associations of the incidence and location of PE with the ancestral strain and each variant. Of the 720 coronavirus disease 2019 patients with computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (58.6 ± 17.2 years; 374 females), PE was diagnosed among 42/358 (12%) during the ancestral strain period, 5/60 (8%) during the Alpha variant period, 16/152 (11%) during the Delta variant period, and 13/150 (9%) during the Omicron variant period. The most proximal PE (ancestral strain vs variants) was located in the main/lobar arteries (31% vs 6%-40%), in the segmental arteries (52% vs 60%-75%), and in the subsegmental arteries (17% vs 0%-19%). There was no significant difference in both the incidence and location of PE across the periods, confirmed by multivariable logistic regression models. In summary, the incidence and severity of PE did not significantly differ across the periods of ancestral strain and Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants.

Investigating the prevalence of and predictive and risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with COVID-19 in Nemazee Teaching Hospital

Background

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a significant contributing factor to vascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary thromboembolism and its predisposing factors in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 284 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Nemazee Teaching Hospital (Shiraz, Iran) between June and August 2021. All patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 by a physician based on clinical symptoms or positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. The collected data included demographic data and laboratory findings. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

There was a significant difference in the mean age between the PTE group and non-PTE group (P=0.037). Moreover, the PTE group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (36.7% vs. 21.8%, P=0.019), myocardial infarction (4.5% vs. 0%, P=0.006), and stroke (23.9% vs. 4.9%, P=0.0001). Direct bilirubin (P=0.03) and albumin (P=0.04) levels significantly differed between the PTE and non-PTE groups. Notably, there was a significant difference in the partial thromboplastin time (P=0.04) between the PTE and non-PTE groups. A regression analysis indicated that age (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00‒1.004; P=0.005), blood pressure (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.12‒3.85; P=0.02), heart attack (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.28‒6.06; P=0.009), and albumin level (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16‒0.97; P=0.04) were all independent predictors of PTE development.

Conclusion

Regression analysis revealed that age, blood pressure, heart attack, and albumin levels were independent predictors of PTE.

Pulmonary Thrombosis despite Therapeutic Anticoagulation in COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Case Report and Literature Review

The rate of thrombotic complications in COVID-19 patients is high and could be associated with the risk of unfavourable outcomes. Moreover, pulmonary thrombotic events can occur even in patients already on anticoagulant treatment. We present the case of a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, without traditional risk factors for thrombosis, who developed massive pulmonary thrombosis (PT) despite therapeutic anticoagulation. The diagnosis was challenging, and the case raised concerns about the protective role of conventional anticoagulant treatment in COVID-19 pneumonia. Thus, we searched for literature reports on COVID-19 patients who developed PT despite being under anticoagulation therapy. We identified 13 cohort studies including 4058 patients of which 346 (8.5%) developed PT and nine case reports/series enrolling 14 patients. Four cohorts were further analysed, which reported data on risk factors for thrombosis, outcomes and biological characteristics. We found that there were no differences between patients with and without PT regarding the classical risk factors for thrombosis. PT occurred regardless of the anticoagulation regimen, and the risk factor identified was severe COVID-19 pneumonia and a stay in an intensive care unit (ICU). Pulmonary thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19 are rather inflammation-related than correlated with traditional thromboembolic risk factors, and the therapeutic approach must take into consideration this aspect.

Changes and significance of vascular endothelial injury markers in patients with diabetes mellitus and pulmonary thromboembolism

BACKGROUND

To investigate the changes and clinical significance of vascular endothelial injury markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with pulmonary embolism (PE).

METHODS

This prospective study enrolled patients with T2DM hospitalized in one hospital from January 2021 to June 2022. Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) (ELISA), von Willebrand factor (vWF) (ELISA), and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) (flow cytometry) were measured. PE was diagnosed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

RESULTS

Thirty participants were enrolled in each group. The plasma levels of sTM (151.22 ± 120.57 vs. 532.93 ± 243.82 vs. 1016.51 ± 218.00 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and vWF (9.63 ± 2.73 vs. 11.50 ± 2.17 vs. 18.02 ± 3.40 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and the percentage of CECs (0.17 ± 0.46 vs. 0.30 ± 0.08 vs. 0.56 ± 0.18%, P < 0.001) gradually increased from the control group to the T2DM group to the T2DM + PE group. sTM (OR = 1.002, 95%CI: 1.002-1.025, P = 0.022) and vWF (OR = 1.168, 95%CI: 1.168-2.916, P = 0.009) were associated with T2DM + PE. sTM > 676.68 pg/mL for the diagnosis of T2DM + PE achieved an AUC of 0.973, while vWF > 13.75 ng/mL achieved an AUC of 0.954. The combination of sTM and vWF above their cutoff points achieved an AUC of 0.993, with 100% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T2DM show endothelial injury and dysfunction, which were worse in patients with T2DM and PE. High sTM and vWF levels have certain clinical predictive values for screening T2DM accompanied by PE.

Pulmonary embolism in COVID-19, risk factors and association with inflammatory biomarkers

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected millions of people worldwide resulting in a substantial number of hospitalizations. Venous thromboembolism including pulmonary embolism is a known complication of COVID-19 pneumonia although its incidence in such patients is unclear. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we looked at the incidence of pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients and its associations with various risk factors including demographics, comorbidities, inflammatory markers and coagulation profiles. We analyzed data from 193 patients of mixed ethnicity with a mean age of 51, mostly South Asians (62%) and Arabs (29%). Diabetes and hypertension were the most prevalent comorbidities accounting for 46% (N = 88) and 36% (N = 71) respectively. Critical COVID-19 illness was diagnosed in 67% of patients. The frequency of COVID-19 related pulmonary embolism was 21.8% (N = 42). We found no association of pulmonary embolism with demographic, comorbid or inflammatory variables. Only a raised D-Dimer was found to be associated with pulmonary embolism. Having a pulmonary embolism had no impact on the length of stay, critical illness, or mortality. Receiving steroids or being on standard thromboprophylaxis or weight/D-Dimer adjusted thromboprophylaxis also had no impact on the frequency of pulmonary embolism. Nine incidents of major bleeding were recorded independent of therapeutic anticoagulation. Patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 pneumonia had a relatively high incidence of pulmonary embolism. D-dimer was the only associated laboratory parameter associated with pulmonary embolism. However, further research is needed to evaluate its predictive and prognostic utility, particularly in an older population.

What We Know (and Do not Know) Regarding the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Thrombosis in COVID-19

The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often complicated by the onset of venous thrombosis and thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing also pulmonary thrombosis. Recent statistics attests that the cumulative frequency of VTE can be as high as 30% in COVID-19 hospitalized patients, increasing to nearly 40 to 70% (depending on systematic screening) in those with severe illness, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit admission. The risk of venous thrombosis seems mostly limited to the active phase of disease, and is directly associated with some genetic (i.e., inherited prothrombotic predisposition) and demographical factors (male sex, overweight/obesity), disease severity (risk increasing progressively from hospitalization to development of severe illness, being the highest in patients needing mechanical ventilation and/or intensive care), presence and extent of pulmonary disease, coexistence of multiple risk factors (immobilization, mechanical ventilation, co- or superinfections), along with increased values of inflammatory and thrombotic biomarkers. At least three different phenotypes of pulmonary thrombosis may develop in COVID-19 patients, one caused by typical embolization from peripheral venous thrombosis (e.g., deep vein thrombosis), a second type triggered by local inflammation of nearby pulmonary tissue, and a third one mostly attributable to the prothrombotic state consequent to the pronounced systemic inflammatory response (i.e., the so-called cytokine storm) that is frequently observed in COVID-19. Although the pathogenesis of these three conditions has different features, their discrimination is essential for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The prognosis of COVID-19 patients who develop pulmonary thrombosis is also considerably worse than those who do not, thus probably needing frequent monitoring and more aggressive therapeutic management.

COVID-19 infection and its impact on case fatality in patients with pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND

Although a high prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) has been reported in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in critically ill patients, nationwide data on the outcome of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and PE are still limited. Thus, we investigated seasonal trends and predictors of in-hospital death in patients with COVID-19 and PE in Germany.

METHODS

We used a German nationwide inpatient sample to analyse data on hospitalisations among COVID-19 patients with and without PE during 2020, and to detect changes in PE prevalence and case fatality in comparison with 2019.

RESULTS

We analysed 176 137 COVID-19 hospitalisations in 2020; PE was recorded in 1.9% (n=3362) of discharge certificates. Almost one-third of patients with COVID-19 and PE died during the in-hospital course (28.7%) compared with COVID-19 patients without PE (17.7%). Between 2019 and 2020, numbers of PE-related hospitalisations were largely unchanged (98 485 versus 97 718), whereas the case fatality rate of PE increased slightly in 2020 (from 12.7% to 13.1%; p<0.001). Differences in case fatality were found between PE patients with and without COVID-19 in 2020 (28.7% versus 12.5%; p<0.001), corresponding to a 3.1-fold increased risk of PE-related death (OR 3.16, 95% CI 2.91-3.42; p<0.001) in the presence of COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

In Germany, the prevalence of PE events during hospitalisations was similar in 2019 and 2020. However, the fatality rate among patients with both COVID-19 and PE was substantially higher than that in those with only one of these diseases, suggesting a life-threatening additive prognostic impact of the COVID-19-PE combination.

CT-Angiographic Aspects of Pulmonary Embolism on SARS COV-2

Objectives

To study pulmonary embolism during COVID-19 pneumonia.

Patients and Methods

This was a one-year retrospective and descriptive study of all patients from three imaging sites with SARS-CoV2 infection.

Results

Two hundred and thirty-nine patients were included. The prevalence of pulmonary embolism was 18.4%. The average age was 55 years old. The sex ratio was 1.65. Dyspnea (58.6%), cough (56.1%), and chest pain (40.2%) were the most common reasons for consultation. In 151 patients (63.2%), chest computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed without checking level of D-dimer. The level of D-dimers was elevated in 47.8%. Grade 5 of CO-RADS accounted for 62.3%. In 70.5% of cases, the pulmonary embolism was bilateral with subsegmental involvement in 47.7%.

Condensation in ‘ground glass’ with ‘crazy paving’ were the predominant typical parenchymal lesions with a frequency of 93.7% and 59.4%. In univariate analysis, D-dimers were significantly associated with the occurrence of pulmonary embolism (p < 0.001). Male sex was associated with a non-significantly higher Risk of having a pulmonary embolism (1.18 95% CI: 0.61–2.31, p = 0.622). The critical level increased the risk of pulmonary embolism in a non-significant way. Only the high level of D-dimers was and this, in a significant way.

Conclusion

Pulmonary embolism was increased in the context of SARS-CoV2. The chest CT-angiography associated with the dosage of D-dimers constitutes a good diagnostic arsenal.

COVID-19 and Pulmonary Embolism Outcomes among Hospitalized Patients in the United States: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of National Inpatient Sample

Venous thromboembolism, in particular, pulmonary embolism (PE), is a significant contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. In this study, we utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database 2020 to evaluate and compare clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 with and without PE. Our sample includes 1,659,040 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia between January 2020 and December 2020. We performed propensity-matched analysis for patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes, including the patient’s age, race, sex, insurance status, median income, length of stay, mortality, hospitalization cost, comorbidities, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor support. Patients with COVID-19 with PE had a higher need for mechanical ventilation (25.7% vs. 15.6%, adjusted odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.4−1.5, p < 0.001), the vasopressor requirement (5.4% vs. 2.6%, adjusted OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4−1.8, p < 0.001), longer hospital stays (10.8 vs. 7.9 days, p < 0.001), and overall higher in-hospital mortality (19.1 vs. 13.9%, adjusted OR of 1.3, 95% CI 1.1−1.5, p < 0.001). This study highlights the need for more aggressive management of PE in COVID-19-positive patients with the aim to improve early diagnosis and treatment to reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs seen in the synchronous COVID-19 and PE-positive patients.

COVID-19 and Pulmonary Thrombosis-An Unresolved Clinical Puzzle: A Single-Center Cohort Study

Pulmonary thrombosis (PT) is a frequent complication of COVID-19. However, the risk factors, predictive scores, and precise diagnostic guidelines on indications for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) are still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics associated with PT in patients with COVID-19. We conducted a cohort study of consecutively hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 who underwent CTPA at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia between 1 April and 31 December 2021. Of 2078 hospitalized patients, 575 (27.6%) underwent CTPA. PT was diagnosed in 178 (30.9%) patients (69.6% males, median age of 61, IQR 50-69 years). The PT group had a higher CRP, LDH, D-dimer, platelets, and CHOD score. PT was more frequent in patients requiring ≥15 L O₂/min (25.0% vs. 39.7%). In multivariable analysis, only D-dimer ≥ 1.0 mg/L (OR 1.78, 95%CI 1.12-2.75) and O₂ ≥ 15 L (OR 1.89, 95%CI 1.26-2.84) were associated with PT. PT was not associated with in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, our data confirmed a high incidence of PT in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, however, no correlation with traditional risk factors and mortality was found. CTPA should be performed in patients requiring high-flow supplemental oxygen or those with increased D-dimer levels.