Management of Pulmonary Embolism

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Decline is Causally Associated with Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Nested Case-Control and Mendelian Randomization Study

Renal dysfunction is highly prevalent among patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). This study combined population-based study and Mendelian randomization (MR) to observe the relationship between renal function and PE.A nested case-control study were performed using data of PE patients and controls were from two nationwide cohorts, the China pUlmonary thromboembolism REgistry Study (CURES) and China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS). Baseline characteristics were balanced using propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting. Restricted cubic spline models were applied for the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline and the risk of PE. Bidirectional two-sample MR analyses were performed using genome-wide association study summary statistics for eGFR involving 1,201,909 individuals and for PE from the FinnGen consortium.The nested case-control study including 17,547 participants (6,322 PE patients) found that eGFR distribution was significantly different between PE patients and controls (p < 0.001), PE patients had a higher proportion of eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. eGFR below 88 mL/min/1.73 m2 was associated with a steep elevation in PE risk. MR analyses indicated a potential causal effect of eGFR decline on PE (odds ratio = 4·26, 95% confidence interval: 2·07-8·79), with no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy and reverse causality.Our findings support the hypothesis that renal function decline contributes to an elevated PE risk. Together with the high prevalence of chronic kidney diseases globally, there arises the necessity for monitoring and modulation of renal function in effective PE prevention.

Is Pulmonary Embolism a Chronic Disease?

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is often regarded as an acute disorder, yet emerging evidence underscores its chronic trajectory. Many survivors endure long-term complications, including recurrent thrombosis, persistent dyspnoea, and psychosocial challenges. These sequelae impair functional capacity and quality of life long after the initial event. To address these issues, we suggest that clinicians should adopt an integrated, multidisciplinary model that includes risk stratification for recurrence, structured follow-up, exercise rehabilitation, and support for psychological challenges. Recognising the potential chronic sequalae of PE ultimately fosters comprehensive care aimed at reducing morbidity and improving long-term outcomes for surviv.

Acute pulmonary embolism in children and adolescents in the USA (2016 and 2019): a nationwide retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological data on acute pulmonary embolism among children and adolescents are sparse and only date back to the 2000s. We aimed to establish annual estimates and age-stratified and sex-stratified indicators of acute pulmonary embolism among children and adolescents aged 0-19 years.

METHODS

We did a retrospective, nationwide, patient-level analysis of the Kids' Inpatient Database, including 5733 patients with acute pulmonary embolism aged 0-19 years admitted to hospital in the USA in 2016 and 2019. The database includes data of all children admitted to hospital during the 2 years available. We also accessed the US Multiple Cause of Death database and population data from the US Census Bureau for the same 2 years. We estimated the incidence, mortality, case fatality, and proportional mortality rates, provided data on the annual pulmonary embolism burden, and provided data on clinical events recorded during hospitalisation.

FINDINGS

In the years 2016 and 2019, 5733 patients (3353 [58.5%] female and 2380 [41.5%] male) were admitted to hospital with acute pulmonary embolism as the primary diagnosis or a concomitant diagnosis. The annual incidence of acute pulmonary embolism was 3·5 (95% CI 3·4-3·6) per 100 000 people. Two peaks in the incidence rate were observed-one in infants younger than 1 year and one in adolescents aged 15-19 years. The in-hospital case fatality rate was 4·5% (4·0-5·1). The crude odds ratio for in-hospital death among patients with (vs without) acute pulmonary embolism was 9·3 (7·9-10·9). The association between acute pulmonary embolism and death persisted across different multivariable models. Patients with acute pulmonary embolism with high-risk (vs no high-risk) features had the highest risk of death: 25·3% (20·6-30·5) among patients aged 0-9 years and 13·9% (11·9-16·2) among patients aged 10-19 years. In patients without high-risk features, risk of death was 4·9% (3·1-7·6) among patients aged 0-9 years and 0·7% (0·5-1·0) among patients aged 10-19 years. The risk of intracranial bleeding was also highest in the presence of pulmonary embolism with high-risk features: 8·1% (5·5-11·7) among patients aged 0-9 years and 3·6% (2·6-4·9) among patients aged 10-19 years. In patients without high-risk features, the risk of intracranial bleeding was 2·5% (1·3-4·6) among those aged 0-9 years and 0·5% (0·3-0·8) in those aged 10-19 years. Reperfusion treatments beyond systemic thrombolysis were rarely used among children and adolescents with acute pulmonary embolism.

INTERPRETATION

Acute pulmonary embolism is rare during childhood and adolescence. The high pulmonary embolism-related fatality among specific subgroups of patients can be interpreted in the context of severe comorbidities and pulmonary embolism events with high-risk features.

FUNDING

None.

Acute pulmonary embolism with and without hemodynamic instability (2003-2022): a Swiss nationwide epidemiologic study

BACKGROUND

Data on the epidemiologic burden of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in Switzerland are unavailable. Knowledge gaps remain on trends in PE-related comorbidities, PE severity, and length of in-hospital stay (LOS) at a nationwide level.

OBJECTIVES

To study the epidemiology of acute PE with a focus on overall trends, sex-stratified trends, and trends in patients with (vs without) hemodynamic instability.

METHODS

We used nationwide, patient-level data including all patients aged 15 years or older hospitalized for PE in Switzerland from 2003 to 2022, amounting to N = 180 600. Additionally, we analyzed the Swiss Death Registry for the same period. We estimated the disease-specific age-standardized incidence rates, mortality rates, in-hospital case fatality rates, proportional mortality rates, and LOS. Analyses were stratified by sex and the presence of features of high-risk PE.

RESULTS

During the study period, the PE-related incidence rate increased from 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.92) per 1000 population in 2003 to 1.19 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.24) in 2022. In contrast, a decreasing trend was found for mortality rates (18.7 [95% CI: 16.8, 20.6] per 100 000 population in 2003, 13 [95% CI: 11.7,14.2] in 2022), in-hospital case fatality rate (9.8 [95% CI: 9.1, 10.5] deaths per 100 hospitalized PE patients in 2003, 7.9 [95% CI: 7.4, 8.5] in 2019, subsequent increase during COVID-19 pandemic), and LOS (11 [Q1-Q3: 7-18] days in 2003, 8 [Q1-Q3: 4-16] in 2022). No major sex differences in trends were present. Except for LOS reduction, patients with high-risk features presented with similar trends.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of acute PE in Switzerland increased over the last 20 years. Despite increasing trends in the median age at PE diagnosis, in-hospital case fatality and mortality rates decreased, particularly among patients with high-risk features, and the LOS progressively declined.

Type of D-dimer assay determines the diagnostic yield of computed tomography in patients suspected for pulmonary embolism

Background

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of PE is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms, making reliable diagnostic tools essential. This study addresses the clinical impact of interassay variability in D-dimer measurements on the utilization and diagnostic yield of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Objectives

To investigate the effect of different D-dimer assays on the decision to perform CTPA and the subsequent diagnostic yield in patients with suspected PE.

Methods

This retrospective, multicenter cohort study analyzed data from 3 teaching hospitals in the southwest region of the Netherlands, covering the years 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. The study included data from 40,096 clinically requested D-dimer results and 11,372 CTPA records of patients with suspected PE. The D-dimer assays used were the Roche Tina-quant and Siemens INNOVANCE.

Results

The study found significant differences in CTPA utilization and diagnostic yield based on the D-dimer assay used. In 2018 to 2019, hospitals using the Roche Tina-quant assay ordered 21% fewer CTPA scans and had a 9% higher positivity rate compared with those using the Siemens INNOVANCE assay.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the necessity for assay-specific cutoff values or, ideally, the standardization of the D-dimer assay to optimize the accuracy and efficiency of PE diagnosis. This study demonstrates that the choice of D-dimer assay significantly influences the clinical management of suspected PE, affecting both the number of CTPA scans performed and the positivity rate of these scans. Implementing assay-specific cutoff values or standardization of the D-dimer assay could reduce unnecessary CTPA scans, minimize patient exposure to radiation, and lower healthcare costs. These results advocate enhanced collaboration between clinicians and laboratory specialists to accurately interpret D-dimer results within the context of the specific assay used. Future research should validate these findings in prospective studies and explore standardized protocols that account for interassay variability.

Time trends of catheter-directed treatment in acute pulmonary embolism in Germany

Background

Catheter-directed treatment (CDT) is an innovative treatment for patients with elevated risk pulmonary embolism (PE) to resolve embolus and restore pulmonary perfusion.

Objectives

We aimed to analyse the use and the benefit of CDT in PE patients in Germany.

Methods

The German nationwide inpatient sample was used to include all hospitalizations of patients with PE from 2005 to 2020 in Germany. PE patients were stratified for CDT usage. Temporal trends and the impact of CDT on case fatality and other outcomes were investigated.

Results

Overall, 1,373,084 hospitalizations of patients with PE (55.9% aged ≥70 years; 53.0% females) were included in this study from 2005 to 2020, and among these, 427,238 (31.1%) patients were categorized as having elevated-risk PE and 3330 (0.2%) were treated with CDT with annual increase from 0.17% (2005) to 0.51% (2020). PE patients of younger age, male sex, with previous surgery, and elevated-risk PE were more often treated with CDT. In patients with elevated risk-PE, CDT attributed to a lower observed rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [MACCE]; 28.2% vs 34.2%; P < .001) and in-hospital case fatality (24.9% vs 31.0%; P < .001). CDT was associated with reduced MACCE (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99) and with a trend toward lower case fatality (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.84-1.01). The benefit of CDT regarding case fatality was age-dependent.

Conclusion

Although the annual rate of CDT increased in Germany between 2005 and 2020, only 0.2% of the PE patients were treated with CDT. Selection criteria for CDT treatment were younger age, male sex, previous surgery, and elevated risk-PE. CDT treatment was associated with reduced MACCE and case-fatality rate in PE patients with elevated-risk PE.

The Crucial Role of Bedside Echocardiography and Clinical Suspicion in Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism With ST Elevation on ECG, Initially Misdiagnosed as ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition with varied presentations, occasionally mimicking ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This case highlights a 52-year-old male patient with a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) who presented with progressive shortness of breath over a month, culminating in dyspnea at rest, and anterior ST-segment elevation on electrocardiography (ECG). The initial evaluation suggested STEMI. Notably, chest pain, a typical feature of STEMI, was absent. This combined with the patient's clinical background and shortness of breath as presenting symptoms prompted further investigation. Bedside echocardiography revealed right ventricular dilation and dysfunction, and computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography confirmed massive PE. Despite anticoagulation and mechanical thrombectomy, the patient succumbed to complications before pulmonary endarterectomy. This report underscores the importance of integrating clinical acumen, advanced imaging modalities, and timely multidisciplinary collaboration to avoid misdiagnosis and optimize patient outcomes in critical cases.

Sex, Racial/Ethnic, and Regional Disparities in Pulmonary Embolism Mortality Trends in the USA, 1999-2020

BACKGROUND

While the National Institutes of Health emphasize integrating sex as a biological variable into research, specific considerations of sex-related differences in pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality trends remain scarce. This study examines sex-based PE mortality trends across regional and demographic groups in the USA from 1999 to 2020.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of National Center for Health Statistics mortality data from 1999 to 2020 was conducted. Using ICD-10 code I26, PE decedents were identified. Piecewise linear regression assessed sex-based temporal trends in PE mortality by age, race/ethnicity, and census region. Annual percentage changes and average annual percentage changes were derived using Weighted Bayesian Information Criteria. The 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the empirical quantile method.

RESULTS

From 1999 to 2020, a total of 179,273 individuals died in the USA due to PE, resulting in an age-adjusted mortality rate of 2.5 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 2.5-2.5). While men and women exhibited comparable rates in recent time segments and across most subcategories, a higher mortality trend among males compared to females was observed among non-Hispanic White and Hispanic individuals and residents of the Western US census region. These results remained robust even after excluding data from 2020, accounting for the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights sex-based disparities in PE mortality trends in the USA from 1999 to 2020. Despite overall stable mortality rates, higher trends among males were evident in specific demographic groups and regions. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to mitigate PE-related mortality discrepancies across diverse populations.

Innovation in Catheter-Directed Therapy for Intermediate-High-Risk and High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

Although anticoagulation remains the cornerstone treatment for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), catheter-directed therapy (CDT) has generated great interest as an adjunctive option for those presenting with hemodynamic decompensation or high risk for deterioration and in whom systemic thrombolysis has failed or is contraindicated. However, randomized controlled data supporting the efficacy and safety of CDT in addition to antithrombotic therapy in patients with high-risk and intermediate- to high-risk PE compared with anticoagulation and systemic thrombolysis alone are lacking. This paucity of high-quality data hampers guideline recommendations regarding the optimal therapeutic approach in such patients with PE. The aim of the present paper is to critically appraise the current evidence for CDT in patients with high-risk and intermediate- to high-risk PE and to highlight major areas of innovation in the recent literature. In addition, the authors describe unmet clinical and research needs, potential strategies to resolve these knowledge gaps, and pathways for device selection.

Pulmonary Embolism Following Preterm Vaginal Delivery: A Case Report

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a critical medical condition characterized by the obstruction of pulmonary arteries due to blood clots. The incidence of PE is heightened during pregnancy, primarily due to physiological changes such as altered blood flow and a hypercoagulable state. This case report details a pulmonary embolism diagnosed immediately following a preterm delivery, despite the patient receiving prophylactic treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The prompt initiation of therapeutic dosing of LMWH was vital in mitigating potentially fatal outcomes. Accurate and timely diagnosis, coupled with appropriate intervention, is essential in preventing severe complications, including maternal mortality. It is imperative to implement effective risk assessment and prophylactic strategies to manage the risk of PE in pregnant women.

Racial Disparities and Other Socioeconomic Predictors of Mortality in Acute Pulmonary Embolism Treatment from the National Inpatient Sample

PURPOSE

To explore the significance of socioeconomic factors such as race and ethnicity as predictors of mortality in submassive and massive acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hospitalizations of patients aged >18 years with acute, nonseptic PE from 2016 to 2019 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample and divided into interventional radiology (IR) (catheter-directed thrombolysis and thrombectomy) and non-IR (tissue plasminogen activator) treatments. Statistical analyses calculated significant odds ratios (ORs) via 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The primary outcome of interest was mortality rate. Comorbidities affecting mortality were examined secondarily.

RESULTS

Non-Hispanic (NH) Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients were significantly less likely to undergo an IR procedure for acute, nonseptic PE compared with White patients (NH Black, OR, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.76-0.90], P < .05; Hispanic, 0.78 [0.68-0.89], P = .06; Asian/Pacific Islander, 0.71 [0.51-0.98], P = .72); however, these differences were eliminated when propensity score matching was performed for age, biological sex, and primary insurance type or for primary insurance type alone. NH Black patients were significantly more likely to die than White patients, regardless of undergoing non-IR or IR treatment. Overall risk of death was 41% higher for NH Black patients than for White patients (relative risk, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.24-1.60]; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

NH Black patients have a higher risk of mortality from acute, nonseptic PE than White patients. Independent of race, undergoing IR management for acute, nonseptic PEs was associated with a lower mortality rate. Matching for primary insurance type eliminates differences in mortality between races, suggesting that socioeconomic status may determine outcomes in acute PE.

Performance and clinical utility of an artificial intelligence-enabled tool for pulmonary embolism detection

PURPOSE

Diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) is still challenging due to other conditions that can mimic its appearance, leading to incomplete or delayed management and several inter-observer variabilities. This study evaluated the performance and clinical utility of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based application designed to assist clinicians in the detection of PE on CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

CTPAs from 230 US cities acquired on 57 scanner models from 6 different vendors were retrospectively collected. Three US board certified expert radiologists defined the ground truth by majority agreement. The same cases were analyzed by CINA-PE, an AI-driven algorithm capable of detecting and highlighting suspected PE locations. The algorithm's performance at a per-case and per-finding level was evaluated. Furthermore, cases with PE not mentioned in the clinical report but correctly detected by the algorithm were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1204 CTPAs (mean age 62.1 years ± 16.6[SD], 44.4 % female, 14.9 % positive) were included in the study. Per-case sensitivity and specificity were 93.9 % (95%CI: 89.3 %-96.9 %) and 94.8 % (95%CI: 93.3 %-96.1 %), respectively. Per-finding positive predictive value was 89.5 % (95%CI: 86.7 %-91.9 %). Among the 196 positive cases, 29 (15.6 %) were not mentioned in the clinical report. The algorithm detected 22/29 (76 %) of these cases, leading to a reduction in the miss rate from 15.6 % to 3.8 % (7/186).

CONCLUSIONS

The AI-based application may improve diagnostic accuracy in detecting PE and enhance patient outcomes through timely intervention. Integrating AI tools in clinical workflows can reduce missed or delayed diagnoses, and positively impact healthcare delivery and patient care.

Categorization of Patients With Pulmonary Embolism by Charlson Comorbidity Index

BACKGROUND

Short-term outcomes of pulmonary embolism are closely related to right ventricular dysfunction and patient's hemodynamic status, but also to individual comorbidity profile. However, the impact of patients' comorbidities on survival during pulmonary embolism might be underrated. Although the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is the most extensively studied comorbidity index for detecting comorbidity burden, studies analyzing the impact of CCI on pulmonary embolism patients' survival are limited.

METHODS

We used the German nationwide inpatient sample to analyze all hospitalized patients with pulmonary embolism in Germany 2005-2020 and calculated CCI for each patient, compared the CCI classes (very low: CCI = 0 points, mild: CCI = 1-2 points, moderate: CCI = 3-4, high severity: CCI >4 points) and impact of CCI class on outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,373,145 hospitalizations of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (53.0% females, 55.9% aged ≥70 years) were recorded in Germany between 2005 and 2020; the CCI class stratified them. Among these, 100,156 (7.3%) were categorized as very low; 221,545 (16.1%) as mild; 394,965 (28.8%) as moderate; and 656,479 (47.8%) as patients with a high comorbidity burden according to CCI class. In-hospital case fatality increased depending on the CCI class: 3.6% in very low, 6.5% in mild, 12.1% in moderate, and 22.1% in high CCI class (P < .001). CCI class was associated with increased in-hospital case fatality (odds ratio 2.014; 95% confidence interval, 2.000-2.027; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Our study results may help practitioners to better understand and measure the association between an aggravated comorbidity profile and increased in-hospital case fatality in patients with pulmonary embolism.

Sarcopenia influences usage of reperfusion treatment in patients with pulmonary embolism aged 75 years and older

Background

Although pulmonary embolism (PE) and sarcopenia are common diseases, only a few studies have assessed the impact of sarcopenia in PE on usage of reperfusion treatments in PE.

Methods

All hospitalizations of PE patients aged ≥75 years 2005-2020 in Germany were included in this study and stratified for sarcopenia. Impact of sarcopenia on treatment procedures and adverse in-hospital events were investigated.

Results

Overall, 576,364 hospitalizations of PE patients aged ≥75 years (median age 81.0 [78.0-85.0] years; 63.3 % females) were diagnosed in Germany during the observational period 2005-2020. Among these, 2357 (0.4 %) were coded with sarcopenia. PE patients with sarcopenia were in median 2 years older (83.0 [79.0-87.0] vs. 81.0 [78.0-85.0] years, P<0.001) and showed an aggravated comorbidity-profile (Charlson Comorbidity Index 7.00 [5.00-9.00] vs. 6.00 [4.00-7.00], P<0.001). Although signs of hemodynamic compromise such as shock (5.2 % vs. 4.1 %, P=0.005) and tachycardia (4.1 % vs. 2.8 %, P<0.001) were more prevalent in sarcopenic PE patients, systemic thrombolysis (1.9 % vs. 3.5 %, P<0.001) was less often used in these patients. Sarcopenia was independently related to an underuse of systemic thrombolysis (OR 0.537 [95 %CI 0.398-0.725], P<0.001). This underuse might driven by higher rates of bleeding events (gastro-intestinal bleeding: 3.1 % vs. 1.9 %, P<0.001, necessity of transfusion of blood constituents: 18.9 % vs. 11.3 %, P<0.001), but also stroke (5.6 % vs. 3.3 %, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia represents a widely overlooked condition in PE patients. Although sarcopenic PE patients were more often afflicted by hemodynamic compromise, systemic thrombolysis was less often administered. This underuse might be caused by contraindications like bleeding events and stroke.

Clinical, Functional, and Quality-of-Life Outcomes after Computer Assisted Vacuum Thrombectomy for Pulmonary Embolism: Interim Analysis of the STRIKE-PE Study

PURPOSE

To report the first interim analysis of the STRIKE-PE study, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of computer assisted vaccum thrombectomy (CAVT) for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective, international, multicenter study will enroll 600 adult patients with acute PE of ≤14 days and a right ventricle (RV)-to-left ventricle (LV) ratio of ≥0.9 who receive first-line endovascular treatment with CAVT using the Indigo Aspiration System (Penumbra, Alameda, California). Primary endpoints are change in RV/LV ratio and incidence of composite major adverse events (MAEs) within 48 hours. Secondary endpoints include functional and quality-of-life (QoL) assessments.

RESULTS

The first 150 consecutive patients were treated with 12F catheter CAVT. Mean age was 61.3 years, 54.7% were men, 94.7% presented with intermediate-risk PE, and 5.3% presented with high-risk PE. Median thrombectomy and procedure times were 33.5 minutes and 70.0 minutes, respectively, resulting in a mean reduction in systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 16.3% (P < .001). Mean RV/LV ratio decreased from 1.39 to 1.01 at 48 hours, a 25.7% reduction (P < .001). Four (2.7%) patients experienced a composite MAE within 48 hours. At 90-day follow-up, patients exhibited statistically significant improvements in the Borg dyspnea scale score and QoL measures, and the New York Heart Association class distribution returned to that reported before the index PE.

CONCLUSIONS

Interim results from the STRIKE-PE study demonstrate a significant reduction in pulmonary artery pressure and RV/LV ratio, a median thrombectomy time of 33.5 minutes, a composite MAE rate of 2.7%, and significant improvements in 90-day functional and QoL outcomes.

Association between Mid-Term Functionality and Clinical Severity in Patients Hospitalized for Pulmonary Embolism

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between clinical severity and functionality, occupational performance, and health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized with pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism patients were grouped by clinical severity using the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index. Those scoring ≥160 were in the high-severity group (HSG); those scoring < 160 in the low-moderate group (LMSG). The main variables were functionality assessed by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), self-perception of occupational performance assessed by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), pain and fatigue assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and health-related quality of life assessed by the EuroQol-5Dimensions (EQ-5D). Patients were evaluated at hospital admission and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up. At admission, there were significant differences between groups in the WHODAS and health-related quality of life in favor of the LMSG. At 1-month and at 3-month follow-up, there were significant differences between the LMSG and HSG in WHODAS, COMP, NRS pain, fatigue and EQ-5D scores in favor of the LMSG. An association exists between clinical severity and mid-term functionality, self-perception of occupational performance, pain, fatigue, and health-related quality of life in PE patients.

Clinical characteristics and anticoagulation patterns of patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism and hemoptysis

Hemoptysis is a frequently encountered manifestation in cases of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), significantly impacting clinical decision-making. Despite its clinical relevance, studies focusing on patients with acute PTE and hemoptysis are notably scarce. In this retrospective study, we examined data from hospitalized patients with acute PTE at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between January 2012 and October 2020. Among the 896 patients analyzed, 105 (11.7%) presented with hemoptysis. Patients with hemoptysis were younger, had higher RRs, and frequently reported chest pain, predominantly showing a negative sPESI score. A significant association with autoimmune diseases was observed (39.0% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001), along with higher occurrences of pulmonary infections (29.5%), lung cancer (21.0%), and chronic heart failure (16.2%). Hemoptysis in PTE is multifactorial; 51.4% of cases were PTE-related, with 85.2% experiencing mild hemoptysis. Among patients with disease-related hemoptysis (13.3%), 90.9% with massive hemoptysis had underlying diseases, predominantly lung cancer. In 35.2% of cases, the cause of hemoptysis remained undetermined, with vasculitis accounting for 29.7%. Anticoagulation strategies varied with the severity of hemoptysis; 82.9% with mild and only 27.3% with massive hemoptysis received therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. Multivariate analysis identified massive hemoptysis as the most significant determinant of anticoagulation decisions. Patients with massive hemoptysis had the poorest outcomes, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 36.4% and 72.7% receiving reduced or no anticoagulation.

The Current Evidence of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams and Their Role in Future

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a critical medical condition requiring prompt and accurate management. The introduction and growing significance of pulmonary embolism response teams (PERT), also termed EXPERT-PE teams, signify a paradigm shift toward a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach in managing this complex entity. As the understanding of acute PE continues to evolve, PERTs stand as a linkage of optimized care, offering personalized and evidence-based management strategies for patients afflicted by this life-threatening condition. The evolving role of PERTs globally is evident in their increasing integration into the standard care pathways for acute PE. These teams have demonstrated benefits such as reducing time to diagnosis and treatment initiation, optimizing resource utilization, and improving patient outcomes.

Outcome of Pulmonary Embolism with and without Ischemic Stroke

Background: Ischemic stroke is the second, and pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cardiovascular cause of death after myocardial infarction. Data regarding risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with acute PE are limited. Methods: Patients were selected by screening the German nationwide in-patient sample for PE (ICD-code I26) and were stratified by ischemic stroke (ICD code I63) and compared. Results: The nationwide in-patient sample comprised 346,586 hospitalized PE patients (53.3% females) in Germany from 2011 to 2014; among these, 6704 (1.9%) patients had additionally an ischemic stroke. PE patients with ischemic stroke had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than those without (28.9% vs. 14.5%, p < 0.001). Ischemic stroke was independently associated with in-hospital death (OR 2.424, 95%CI 2.278-2.579, p < 0.001). Deep venous thrombosis and/or thrombophlebitis (DVT) combined with heart septal defect (OR 24.714 [95%CI 20.693-29.517], p < 0.001) as well as atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR 2.060 [95%CI 1.943-2.183], p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for stroke in PE patients. Systemic thrombolysis was associated with a better survival in PE patients with ischemic thrombolysis who underwent cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR, OR 0.55 [95%CI 0.36-0.84], p = 0.006). Conclusions: Ischemic stroke did negatively affect the survival of PE. Combination of DVT and heart septal defect and atrial fibrillation/flutter were strong and independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in PE patients. In PE patients with ischemic stroke, who had to underwent CPR, systemic thrombolysis was associated with improved survival.

Safety and Efficacy of Reduced-Dose Versus Full-Dose Alteplase for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Multicenter Observational Comparative Effectiveness Study

OBJECTIVES

Systemic thrombolysis improves outcomes in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) but is associated with the risk of hemorrhage. The data on efficacy and safety of reduced-dose alteplase are limited. The study objective was to compare the characteristics, outcomes, and complications of patients with PE treated with full- or reduced-dose alteplase regimens.

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital and 15 community and academic centers of a large healthcare system.

PATIENTS

Hospitalized patients with PE treated with systemic alteplase.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Pre- and post-alteplase hemodynamic and respiratory variables, patient outcomes, and complications were compared. Propensity score (PS) weighting was used to adjust for imbalances of baseline characteristics between reduced- and full-dose patients. Separate analyses were performed using the unweighted and weighted cohorts. Ninety-eight patients were treated with full-dose (100 mg) and 186 with reduced-dose (50 mg) regimens. Following alteplase, significant improvements in shock index, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and supplemental oxygen requirements were observed in both groups. Hemorrhagic complications were lower with the reduced-dose compared with the full-dose regimen (13% vs. 24.5%, p = 0.014), and most were minor. Major extracranial hemorrhage occurred in 1.1% versus 6.1%, respectively ( p = 0.022). Complications were associated with supratherapeutic levels of heparin anticoagulation in 37.5% of cases and invasive procedures in 31.3% of cases. The differences in complications persisted after PS weighting (15.4% vs. 24.7%, p = 0.12 and 1.3% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.067), but did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in mortality, discharge destination, ICU or hospital length of stay, or readmission after PS weighting.

CONCLUSIONS

In a retrospective, PS-weighted observational study, when compared with the full-dose, reduced-dose alteplase results in similar outcomes but fewer hemorrhagic complications. Avoidance of excessive levels of anticoagulation or invasive procedures should be considered to further reduce complications.

Palliative Care Penetration Among Hospitalizations with Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Nationwide Analysis

Background: Integration of palliative care in the management of critical illnesses has been linked with a better quality of life for patients and their families. Yet, there is a paucity of data regarding the role of palliative care for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) hospitalizations which is a leading cause of cardiovascular death in the United States. Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample years 2005-2015, acute PE hospitalizations were identified by using ICD-9-codes. The primary outcome was the trends of palliative care penetration during acute PE hospitalizations and the main secondary outcome was the factors associated with palliative care utilization. Results: Among 505,485 acute PE hospitalizations, 15,522 (3.1%) had a palliative care encounter. Hospitalizations with high-risk PE versus non-high-risk PE showed a higher utilization for palliative care (7.6% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.001). The annual trends of palliative care penetration among hospitalizations with PE showed a rising pattern (0.6% in 2005 vs. 5.6% in 2015, Ptrend<0.001). A similar trend was observed among those with high-risk PE (0.8% in 2005 vs. 12.8% in 2015, Ptrend<0.001). The trends of palliative care utilization among cancer and non-cancer admissions increased over time (1.3%in 2005 to 15.5% in 2015 vs. 0.5% in 2005 to 3.9% in 2015, both P-trends<0.001). Some racial and regional disparities were identified among the predictors of palliative care utilization. Conclusions: Palliative care penetration among acute PE hospitalizations remains suboptimal even among high-risk PE, and cancer hospitalizations, but has been increasing in recent years. Future studies are needed to investigate the barriers for palliative care utilization and narrowing this gap among admissions with acute PE.

Management of high and intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism: A position paper of the Interventional Cardiology Working Group of the Italian Society of Cardiology

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition that remains a major global health concern. Noteworthy, patients with high- and intermediate-high-risk PE pose unique challenges because they often display clinical and hemodynamic instability, thus requiring rapid intervention to mitigate the risk of clinical deterioration and death. Importantly, recovery from PE is associated with long-term complications such as recurrences, bleeding with oral anticoagulant treatment, pulmonary hypertension, and psychological distress. Several novel strategies to improve risk factor characterization and management of patients with PE have recently been introduced. Accordingly, this position paper of the Working Group of Interventional Cardiology of the Italian Society of Cardiology deals with the landscape of high- and intermediate-high risk PE, with a focus on bridging the gap between the evolving standards of care and the current clinical practice. Specifically, the growing importance of catheter-directed therapies as part of the therapeutic armamentarium is highlighted. These interventions have been shown to be effective strategies in unstable patients since they offer, as compared with thrombolysis, faster and more effective restoration of hemodynamic stability with a consistent reduction in the risk of bleeding. Evolving standards of care underscore the need for continuous re-assessment of patient risk stratification. To this end, a multidisciplinary approach is paramount in refining selection criteria to deliver the most effective treatment to patients with unstable hemodynamics. In conclusion, the current management of unstable patients with PE should prioritize tailored treatment in a patient-oriented approach in which transcatheter therapies play a central role.

Early predictors of clinical deterioration in intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism: clinical needs, research imperatives, and pathways forward

A subset of intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients will suffer clinical deterioration in the early hours following the acute event. Current evidence-based guidelines for the management of acute PE have provided limited direction for identification of which intermediate-high risk PE patients will go on to develop haemodynamic decompensation. Furthermore, a paucity of data further hampers guideline recommendations regarding the optimal approach and duration of intensive monitoring, best methods to assess the early response to anticoagulation, and the ideal window for reperfusion therapy, if decompensation threatens. The aim of the present article is to identify the current unmet needs related to the early identification of intermediate-high risk PE patients at higher risk of clinical deterioration and mortality during the early hours after the acute cardiovascular event and suggest some potential strategies to further explore gaps in the literature.

Clinical Features and Predictors of Mortality in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Retrospective Study From Southern Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality predictors in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Adult patients who were admitted to the Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, a large tertiary hospital in Southern Saudi Arabia, with the diagnosis of acute PE were retrospectively examined for the predictors of one-year mortality.

RESULTS

The overall in-hospital mortality was 15.6% among 212 patients. In univariate analysis, only age was significantly associated with increased early mortality, whereas age, obesity, presence of active malignancy, hypertension, use of thrombolytics, and Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) were significantly associated with increased late mortality. By use of binary logistic regression, the presence of obesity (HR 6.010, 95%CI 0.048-16.853, p=0.030), active malignancy (HR 3.040, 95%CI 1.147-8.059, p=0.025), and the use of thrombolytics (HR 8.074, 95%CI 2.719-23.977, p<0.001), were independently significant factors for late (overall) mortality, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Among Saudi Arabian patients in the Southern Region, our data show that age is an independent factor for increased early and late mortality. The presence of obesity, active malignancy, and the use of thrombolytics, were independently significant factors for increased late (one-year) mortality. These factors should be taken into account for risk stratification and decisions on tailored management of patients with PE. Further prospective multicenter studies are needed.

Short- and Long-Term Mortality for Patients With and Without a Cancer Diagnosis Following Pulmonary Embolism in Denmark, 2000 to 2020: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND

New treatment regimens have been introduced in the past 20 years, which may influence the short- and long-term prognosis for patients with and without a cancer diagnosis following pulmonary embolism. However, newer studies investigating these trends are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the 30- and 31- to 365-day mortality following pulmonary embolism.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the Danish nationwide registries, patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism between 2000 and 2020 were included. Age- and sex-standardized 30- and 31- to 365-day mortality was calculated and stratified by cancer status. In total, 60 614 patients (29.6% with recent cancer; mean age, 68.2 years) were included. The 30-day mortality for patients with no recent cancer decreased from 19.1% (95% CI, 17.9%-20.4%) in 2000 to 7.3% (95% CI, 6.7%-8.0%) in 2018 to 2020 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36 [95% CI, 0.32-0.40]; P<0.001). The 30-day mortality for patients with recent cancer decreased from 32.2% (95% CI, 28.8%-36.6%) to 14.1% (95% CI, 12.7%-15.5%) (HR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.33-0.44]; P<0.001). The 31- to 365-day mortality for patients with no recent cancer decreased from 12.5% (95% CI, 11.4%-13.6%) to 9.4% (95% CI, 8.6%-10.2%) (HR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.64-0.83]; P<0.001).The 31- to 365-day mortality for patients with recent cancer remained stable: 39.4% (95% CI, 35.1%-43.7%) to 38.3% (95% CI, 35.9%-40.6%) (HR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.84-1.12]; P=0.69).

CONCLUSIONS

From 2000 to 2020, improvements were observed in 30-day mortality following pulmonary embolism regardless of cancer status. For patients with recent cancer, 31- to 365-day mortality did not improve, whereas a minor improvement was observed for patients without recent cancer.

Interventional therapies for pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the leading cause of in-hospital death and the third most frequent cause of cardiovascular death. The clinical presentation of PE is variable, and choosing the appropriate treatment for individual patients can be challenging. Traditionally, treatment of PE has involved a choice of anticoagulation, thrombolysis or surgery; however, a range of percutaneous interventional technologies have been developed that are under investigation in patients with intermediate-high-risk or high-risk PE. These interventional technologies include catheter-directed thrombolysis (with or without ultrasound assistance), aspiration thrombectomy and combinations of the aforementioned principles. These interventional treatment options might lead to a more rapid improvement in right ventricular function and pulmonary and/or systemic haemodynamics in particular patients. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials on the safety and efficacy of these interventions compared with conservative therapies is lacking. In this Review, we discuss the underlying pathophysiology of PE, provide assistance with decision-making on patient selection and critically appraise the available clinical evidence on interventional, catheter-based approaches for PE treatment. Finally, we discuss future perspectives and unmet needs.

The use of pre-operative Inferior Vena Cava filters for thromboprophylaxis in ultra-high-risk patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and narrative analysis

PURPOSE

Patients undergoing total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). As the number performed annually increases, the population at risk of fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) also grows. Ultra-high-risk arthroplasty patients (UHRAPs) include those with additional comorbidities, or a history of VTE, for many of whom routine prophylaxis will previously have failed. Pre-operative insertion of Inferior Vena Cava filters (IVCFs) has been recommended for thromboprophylaxis in UHRAPs, and this review was performed to establish their results.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE and Embase databases was performed for studies reporting the use of Inferior Vena Cava filters in hip and knee arthroplasty patients.

RESULTS

Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, containing 718 IVCFs in Orthopaedic patients, 343 of which were permanent (47.8%), 369 potentially retrievable (51.4%), 5 absorbable (0.6%) and one of unknown design (0.1%). Patient age averaged 64.7yrs (17-95) and 56% were female. Pre-operatively, 415 prophylactic IVCFs were inserted in 409 UHRAPs, undergoing a total of 438 total joint arthroplasties (TJA). There were 11 cases of PE in the entire series (1.5%) only one of which was fatal (0.01%), with four non-fatal PE in the UHRAP group (0.96%). Removal was attempted for 283 of the retrievable filters (76.7%) and was successful in 280 (98.9%).

CONCLUSION

The use of IVCFs eliminated fatal PE in UHRAPs, but larger, high-quality studies, with standardised reporting, are still required to determine their absolute indications for use, complication profile, efficacy and optimum design.

PECSS: Pulmonary Embolism Comprehensive Screening Score to safely rule out pulmonary embolism among suspected patients presenting to emergency department

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism is a severe cardiovascular disease and can be life-threatening if left untreated. However, the detection rate of pulmonary embolism using existing pretest probability scores remained relatively low and clinical rule out often relied on excessive use of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data from pulmonary embolism suspected patients in Zhongshan Hospital from July 2018 to October 2022. Pulmonary embolism diagnosis and severity grades were confirmed by computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. Patients were randomly divided into derivation and validation set. To construct the Pulmonary Embolism Comprehensive Screening Score (PECSS), we first screened for candidate clinical predictors using univariate logistic regression models. These predictors were then included in a searching algorithm with indicators of Wells score, where a series of points were assigned to each predictor. Optimal D-Dimer cutoff values were investigated and incorporated with PECSS to rule out pulmonary embolism.

RESULTS

In addition to Wells score, PECSS identified seven clinical predictors (anhelation, abnormal blood pressure, in critical condition when admitted, age > 65 years and high levels of pro-BNP, CRP and UA,) strongly associated with pulmonary embolism. Patients can be safely ruled out of pulmonary embolism if PECSS ≤ 4, or if 4 < PECSS ≤ 6 and D-Dimer ≤ 2.5 mg/L. Comparing with Wells approach, PECSS achieved lower failure rates across all pulmonary embolism severity grades. These findings were validated in the held-out validation set.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to Wells score, PECSS approaches achieved lower failure rates and better compromise between sensitivity and specificity. Calculation of PECSS is easy and all predictors are readily available upon emergency department admission, making it widely applicable in clinical settings.

TRAIL REGISTRATION

The study was retrospectively registered (No. CJ0647) and approved by Human Genetic Resources in China in April 2022. Ethical approval was received from the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital (NO.B2021-839R).

Long-term mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism: results in a single-center registry

Background

While numerous studies have investigated short-term outcomes after pulmonary embolism (PE), long-term mortality remains insufficiently studied.

Objectives

To investigate long-term outcomes in an unselected cohort of patients with PE.

Methods

A total of 896 consecutive patients with PE enrolled in a single-center registry between May 2005 and December 2017 were followed up for up to 14 years. The observed mortality rate was compared with the expected rate in the general population.

Results

The total follow-up time was 3908 patient-years (median, 3.1 years). The 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 19.7% (95% CI, 17.2%-22.4%) and 37.1% (95% CI, 33.6%-40.5%), respectively. The most frequent causes of death were cancer (28.5%), PE (19.4%), infections (13.9%), and cardiovascular events (11.6%). Late mortality (after >30 days) was more frequent than expected in the general population, a finding that was consistent in patients without cancer (the 5-year standardized mortality ratios were 2.77 [95% CI, 2.41-3.16] and 1.80 [95% CI, 1.50-2.14], respectively). Active cancer was the strongest risk factor for death between 30 days and 3 years (hazard ratio [HR], 6.51; 95% CI, 4.67-9.08) but was not associated with later mortality. Death after >3 years was predicted by age (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.51-2.29 per decade), chronic heart failure (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.02-2.70), and anemia (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.09-2.41).

Conclusion

The risk of mortality in patients with PE remained elevated compared with that in the general population throughout the follow-up period. The main driver of long-term mortality during the first 3 years was cancer. After that, mortality was predicted by age, chronic heart failure, and anemia.

Pulmonary embolism in United States emergency departments, 2010-2018

Little is known about pulmonary embolism (PE) in the United States emergency department (ED). This study aimed to describe the disease burden (visit rate and hospitalization) of PE in the ED and to investigate factors associated with its burden. Data were obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) from 2010 to 2018. Adult ED visits with PE were identified using the International Classification of Diseases codes. Analyses used descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression accounting for the NHAMCS's complex survey design. Over the 9-year study period, there were an estimated 1,500,000 ED visits for PE, and the proportion of PE visits in the entire ED population increased from 0.1% in 2010-2012 to 0.2% in 2017-2018 (P for trend = 0.002). The mean age was 57 years, and 40% were men. Older age, obesity, history of cancer, and history of venous thromboembolism were independently associated with a higher proportion of PE, whereas the Midwest region was associated with a lower proportion of PE. The utilization of chest computed tomography (CT) scan appeared stable, which was performed in approximately 43% of the visits. About 66% of PE visits were hospitalized, and the trend remained stable. Male sex, arrival during the morning shift, and higher triage levels were independently associated with a higher hospitalization rate, whereas the fall and winter months were independently associated with a lower hospitalization rate. Approximately 8.8% of PE patients were discharged with direct-acting oral anticoagulants. The ED visits for PE continued to increase despite the stable trend in CT use, suggesting a combination of prevalent and incident PE cases in the ED. Hospitalization for PE remains common practice. Some patients are disproportionately affected by PE, and certain patient and hospital factors are associated with hospitalization decisions.

Prognostic role of different temporal patterns of dyspnoea onset in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

AIMS

Dyspnoea is a well known symptom of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We assess the prognostic role of different patterns of dyspnoea onset regarding in-hospital mortality, clinical deterioration and the composite of the outcomes in PE patients, according to their haemodynamic status at admission.

METHODS

Patients from the prospective Italian Pulmonary Embolism Registry (IPER) were included in the study. At admission, patients were stratified, according to their haemodynamic status, as high- (haemodynamically unstable) and non-high-risk (haemodynamically stable) patients.

RESULTS

Overall, 1623 consecutive patients (mean age 70.2 ± 15.2 years, 696 males), with confirmed acute PE, were evaluated for the features of dyspnoea. Among these, 1353 (83.3%) experienced dyspnoea at admission. No significant differences were observed regarding in-hospital mortality and the composite outcome of in-hospital mortality and clinical deterioration between patients with and without dyspnoea. However, in non-high-risk patients, clinical deterioration was more frequently observed when dyspnoea was present compared with absence of dyspnoea (P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that non-high-risk patients had an increased risk of clinical deterioration when experiencing dyspnoea within 24 h [hazard ratio (HR): 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49-1.65, P < 0.0001] and between 25 h and 7 days before admission (HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.58-1.77, P < 0.0001), independently of age, sex, right ventricular dysfunction, positive cardiac troponin and thrombolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-high-risk PE patients experiencing dyspnoea within 7 days before hospitalization had a higher risk of clinical deterioration compared with those without and, therefore, they may require more aggressive management.

Osteoarthritis and risk of cardiovascular diseases: A Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Observational studies have suggested that osteoarthritis may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, there is still no high-quality evidence to explain this causal relationship. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the associations of hip arthritis and knee arthritis with 14 types of cardiovascular diseases in the general population.

METHOD

Genome-wide association studies for hip arthritis and knee arthritis were obtained from the UK Biobank. Genome-wide association studies of the 14 types of cardiovascular diseases we studied were extracted from the genetic consortia and the FinnGen consortium. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), maximum likelihood, weighted medium, penalized weighted median, and IVW (fixed effects) of MR were applied to a two-sample MR analysis. The mean pleiotropy of genetic variation and sensitivity analysis were used to evaluate the reliability of the results, and the MR-Egger test and leave-one-out method are the core evaluation methods.

RESULT

Genetically predicted knee arthritis was causally associated with vein thromboembolism (IVW Odds Ratio (OR): 1.005, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.842-1.199, P = 0.020) and pulmonary embolism (IVW OR: 1.003, 95% CI: 0.841-1.197, P = 0.025). Furthermore, hip arthritis also has a significant impact on cardiovascular diseases and is positively correlated with ischemic stroke (IVW OR: 1.086, 95% CI: 0.910-1.295, P = 0.024), atrial fibrillation (IVW OR: 1.093, 95% CI: 0.917-1.304, P = 0.019), and coronary artery disease (IVW OR: 1.061, 95% CI: 0.890-1.266, P = 0. 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested that osteoarthritis may increase the risk of vein thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease. However, the findings provided no evidence to support that osteoarthritis has a large effect on the risk of cardiovascular diseases that we studied. Further research is needed to clarify the results.

Contemporary Management and Clinical Course of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: The COPE Study

BACKGROUND

 New diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment strategies became recently available for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) leading to changes in clinical practice and potentially influencing short-term patients' outcomes.

RESEARCH QUESTION

 The COntemporary management of PE (COPE) study is aimed at assessing the contemporary clinical management and outcomes in patients with acute symptomatic PE.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

 Prospective, noninterventional, multicenter study. The co-primary study outcomes, in-hospital and 30-day death, were reported overall and by risk categories according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association guidelines.

RESULTS

 Among 5,213 study patients, PE was confirmed by computed tomography in 96.3%. In-hospital, 289 patients underwent reperfusion (5.5%), 92.1% received parenteral anticoagulants; at discharge, 75.6% received direct oral anticoagulants and 6.7% vitamin K antagonists. In-hospital and 30-day mortalities were 3.4 and 4.8%, respectively. In-hospital death occurred in 20.3% high-risk patients (n = 177), in 4.0% intermediate-risk patients (n = 3,281), and in 0.5% low-risk patients (n = 1,702) according to ESC guidelines. Further stratification in intermediate-high and intermediate-low risk patients did not reach statistical significance, but intermediate-risk patients with sPESI > 0 alone had lower mortality compared to those with one or both among right ventricular dilation at echocardiography or increased troponin. Death or clinical deterioration occurred in 1.5, 5.0, and 9.4% of patients at low, intermediate-low, and intermediate-high risk for death according to ESC guidelines.

CONCLUSION

 For the majority of patients with PE, contemporary initial management includes risk stratification and treatment with direct oral anticoagulants. In-hospital mortality remains high in intermediate and high-risk patients calling for and informing research focused on its reduction.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03631810.

Blueprint for developing an effective pulmonary embolism response network

INTRODUCTION

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal. It is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death after stroke and myocardial infarction. However, the management of acute PE remains poorly standardized, and there is a lack of access to mechanical reperfusion when indicated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This working group analyzed the current clinical guidelines for the use of percutaneous catheter-directed treatment in this setting and proposed a standardized approach for severe forms of acute PE. This document also proposes a methodology for the coordination of regional resources in order to create an effective PE response network, based on the hub-and-spoke organization design.

CONCLUSION

This model can be applied at the regional level, but it is desirable to extend it to the national level.

Venous thromboembolism: Why is it still a significant health problem?

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the third leading cause of acute cardiovascular syndrome following myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The global burden of disease worldwide is high and shows a steady upward trend in recent years with an incidence of 1-2 per 1000 adults per year. The overarching goal of the initial management of VTE is to prevent early and late adverse outcomes. Rapid evaluation and therapeutic intervention is vital to improving prognosis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus databases for articles published in the last 10 years. Additionally, some earlier articles were analyzed.

RESULTS

For the purposes of this review, we discussed how understanding the epidemiology of VTE and the current knowledge of early and late complications of this disease have shaped the current approach to VTE prevention. We also analyzed the current knowledge and the most up-to-date information about VTE in COVID-19 infection. Contemporary perspective presented in this article on mortality in VTE, the incidence of recurrences, the risk of major bleeding during therapy and the chronic complications indicate why this is a major challenge for today's medicine and a current target for further research.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the interaction between environmental and genetic factors appears to be crucial in the diagnostic process. It can provide insight into the pathophysiology of VTE, potentially identifying options for targeted prevention and treatment. However, due to differences in clinical presentation, diagnosing pulmonary embolism may not be an easy task which perfectly illustrates the scale and complexity of the disease.

Additive prognostic value of serum calcium to the ESC risk stratification in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND

Hypocalcemia has been shown to be involved in the adverse outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). We aimed to determine the incremental value of adding hypocalcemia, defined as serum calcium level ≤ 2.12 mmol/L, on top of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) prognostic algorithm, for the prediction of in-hospital mortality in APE patients, which in turn could lead to the optimization of APE management.

METHODS

This study was conducted at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2016 to December 2019. Patients with APE were retrospectively analyzed and divided into 2 groups based on serum calcium levels. Associations between hypocalcemia and adverse outcomes were assessed by Cox analysis. The accuracy of risk stratification for in-hospital mortality was assessed with the addition of serum calcium to the current ESC prognostic algorithm.

RESULTS

Among 803 patients diagnosed with APE, 338 (42.1%) patients had serum calcium levels ≤ 2.12 mmol/L. Hypocalcemia was significantly associated with higher in-hospital and 2-year all-cause mortality compared to the control group. The addition of serum calcium to ESC risk stratification enhanced net reclassification improvement. Low-risk group with serum calcium level > 2.12 mmol/L had a 0% mortality rate, improving the negative predictive value up to 100%, while high-risk group with serum calcium level ≤ 2.12 mmol/L indicated a higher mortality of 25%.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified serum calcium as a novel predictor of mortality in patients with APE. In the future, serum calcium may be added to the commonly used ESC prognostic algorithm for better risk stratification of patients suffering from APE.

Deep Vein Thrombosis After Earthquake: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Among natural disasters, earthquake is associated with heavy fatalities and financial damages, causing considerable mortality. The complications resulting from getting trapped in rubble, secondary traumas, obligation to reside in temporary shelters, along with other factors such as limited mobility, stress, and dehydration, predispose earthquake survivors to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The aim of the present study is to investigate the rate of DVT after an earthquake using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

To perform the present study, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used. The protocol of this review study has been registered in the International Perspective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) with the code of CRD42021290375. Credible data resources including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, SID, and Embase were used for extracting relevant studies. Random effect model was used to perform the meta-analysis. I² was ritualized to investigate heterogeneity across the studies. Publication bias of studies was evaluated using the Begg test.

RESULTS

In this study, 267 primary studies were identified and extracted. After removing the duplicate ones and the screening, eventually 1² final studies were chosen for the meta-analysis. Based on the meta-analysis results, the total rate of DVT was 9.07% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.32-10.81; I² = 97.9%; P = 0<0.001). Analysis of DVT in the subgroups of the general population and patient survivors were 11.43% (95% CI: 9.06-13.79; I² = 98%; P = 0<0.001) and 2.51% (95% CI: 0.04-4.63; I² = 77.7%; P = 0.001). Also, based on the Begg test, the publication bias in the chosen studies was not considerable.

CONCLUSIONS

DVT rate in earthquake survivors is higher compared with other disasters, and over time it finds a growing trend. After earthquake, the focus of rescue and health-care teams is on individuals with observable injuries and damages. Because DVT is first asymptomatic but has fatal consequences, including pulmonary embolism and sudden death, it should be incorporated in health's status assessment of earthquake-stricken people as well as screening and diagnostic programs of health-care providers.

Prognostic Risk Factors of 30-Day Death in Traumatic Lower Limb Fracture Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background

To explore the prognostic risk factors of 30-day death in patients with traumatic lower limb fracture (TLLF) complicated with acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Methods

295 consecutive TLLF patients diagnosed as APE according to pulmonary artery CT angiography, hospitalized in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2021, were included in this study. Patients were divided into nonsurvival group and survival group according to 30-day follow-up results. After adjusting age, sex, and all the clinical variables with P values of <0.2 with backward stepwise method (likelihood ratio), multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors of 30 days all-cause death in TLLF patients with APE. The area under curve (AUC) calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the incremental model were used to determine the prognostic potential of identified risk factors.

Results

29 patients died during 30-day follow-up. Simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) score ≥1 (P < 0.05), Wells score ≥7 (P < 0.01), and pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.01) were associated with higher risk, while anticoagulant therapy (P < 0.01) was associated with lower risk of all-cause death during 30 days follow-up in APE patients. Compared with sPESI score, Wells score plus pulmonary hypertension produced better predictive efficacy. Prognostic value of sPESI score could be enhanced by adding Wells score, pulmonary hypertension, and anticoagulant therapy to the predicting models.

Conclusions

Wells score ≥7 and pulmonary hypertension are independent predictive risk factors of 30-day all-cause death in TLLF patients with APE.

Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment predicts adverse in-hospital events in patients with pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening acute disease accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. Regarding hospitalizations of patients with PE, risk stratification of these patients is crucial. Thus, risk stratification tools like risk scores are of key interest.

METHODS

The nationwide German inpatient sample of the years 2005-2018 was used for this present analysis. Hospitalized PE patients were stratified according to Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment class, and the performance of this score was evaluated to predict adverse in-hospital events.

RESULTS

Overall, 1 174 196 hospitalizations of PE patients (53.5% females; 56.4% ≥70 years) were registered in Germany between 2005 and 2018. According to the Mansoor's self-report tool for cardiovascular risk assessment, 346 126 (29.5%) PE patients were classified as high risk. Higher Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment class was predictive for in-hospital death (OR 1.129 [95%CI 1.117-1.141], P < 0.001), shock (OR 1.117 [95%CI 1.095-1.140], P < 0.001), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR 1.109 [95%CI 1.092-1.126], P < 0.001), right ventricular dysfunction (OR 1.039 [95%CI 1.030-1.048], P < 0.001), intracerebral bleeding (OR 1.316 [95%CI 1.275-1.358], P < 0.001), and gastro-intestinal bleeding (OR 1.316 [95%CI 1.275-1.358], P < 0.001). Systemic thrombolysis was not associated with lower in-hospital mortality in high-risk class (OR 5.139 [95%CI 4.961-5.323], P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic performance of the Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment for risk stratification of PE patients was poor and not able to identify those PE patients, who might benefit from systemic thrombolysis. However, the Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment was moderately helpful to identify PE patients at higher risk for bleeding events.

Anticoagulation therapy for pulmonary embolism involving a myxoma mimicking, giant type C thrombus: a case report

Right heart thrombus (RHTh) with concurrent acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is rare and can seriously destabilize hemodynamics, leading to an emergency situation with high mortality. Diagnosis and treatment of RHTh with acute PE are not yet standardized. There are few reports of acute PE concurrent with RHTh and even less is known about patients with a right heart mural thrombus. For physicians, the diagnostic choice and treatment of these patients are particularly difficult due to the lack of knowledge. Here, we report a rare case of partial mural RHTh (type C RHTh) with acute PE. The mural mass in the right heart was initially diagnosed as atrial myxoma according to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and both pulmonary embolus and the mural mass were completely absorbed after administering Rivaroxiban. This case suggests that TTE alone is insufficient to identify and diagnoses a right heart mural mass such as this. However, novel oral anticoagulants may be effective at alleviating PE with type C RHTh.

Fixed-Dose Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism Associated with COVID-19

Background. Fixed-dose ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USAT) rapidly improves hemodynamic parameters and reverses right ventricular dysfunction caused by acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The effectiveness of USAT for acute PE associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unknown. Methods and results. The study population of this cohort study consisted of 36 patients with an intermediate-high- or high-risk acute PE treated with a fixed low-dose USAT protocol (r-tPA 10-20 mg/15 h). Of these, 9 patients tested positive for COVID-19 and were age-sex-matched to 27 patients without COVID-19. The USAT protocol included, beyond the infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, anti-Xa-activity-adjusted unfractionated heparin therapy (target 0.3-0.7 U/mL). The study outcomes were the invasively measured mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) before and at completion of USAT, and the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), according to which more points indicate more severe hemodynamic impairment. Twenty-four (66.7%) patients were men; the mean age was 67 ± 14 years. Mean ± standard deviation mPAP decreased from 32.3 ± 8.3 to 22.4 ± 7.0 mmHg among COVID-19 patients and from 35.4 ± 9.7 to 24.6 ± 7.0 mmHg among unexposed, with no difference in the relative improvement between groups (p = 0.84). Within 12 h of USAT start, the median NEWS decreased from six (Q1-Q3: 4-8) to three (Q1-Q3: 2-4) points among COVID-19 patients and from four (Q1-Q3: 2-6) to two (Q1-Q3: 2-3) points among unexposed (p = 0.29). One COVID-19 patient died due to COVID-19-related complications 14 days after acute PE. No major bleeding events occurred. Conclusions. Among patients with COVID-19-associated acute PE, mPAP rapidly decreased during USAT with a concomitant progressive improvement of the NEWS. The magnitude of mPAP reduction was similar in patients with and without COVID-19.

Prevalence of Hemorrhagic Complications in Hospitalized Patients with Pulmonary Embolism

Background: The prevalence of anticoagulant therapy-associated hemorrhagic complications in hospitalized patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) has been scarcely investigated. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of hemorrhages in hospitalized PE patients. Methods: The Information System “ASKLIPIOS™ HOSPITAL” implemented in the Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly, was used to collect demographic, clinical and outcome data from January 2013 to April 2021. Results: 326 patients were included. Males outnumbered females. The population’s mean age was 68.7 ± 17.0 years. The majority received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Only 5% received direct oral anticoagulants. 15% of the population were complicated with hemorrhage, of whom 18.4% experienced a major event. Major hemorrhages were fewer than minor (29.8% vs. 70.2%, p = 0.001). Nadroparin related to 83.3% of the major events. Hematuria was the most common hemorrhagic event. 22% of patients with major events received a transfusion, and 11% were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). The events lasted for 3 ± 2 days. No death was recorded. Conclusions: 1/5 of the patients hospitalized for PE complicated with hemorrhage without a fatal outcome. The hemorrhages were mainly minor and lasted for 3 ± 2 days. Among LMWHs, nadroparin was related to a higher percentage of hemorrhages.

Biological Activities and Phytochemicals of Lungworts (Genus Pulmonaria) Focusing on Pulmonaria officinalis

Lungworts (members of genus Pulmonaria), especially Pulmonaria officinalis, have been used as medicinal plants in folk and traditional medicine. The potential biological activities of lungworts, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, skin whitening, anticoagulant, antibacterial, anti-anemic, anticonvulsant, and wound-healing properties, have been observed in different studies. More than 90 phytochemicals belonging to pharmacologically active phytochemical classes have been reported for lungworts, which can be considered as one of the important contributors to the biological properties along with micronutrients. However, safety studies and clinical trials are missing for lungworts to establish most of their potential biological properties. Similarly, in vivo studies are lacking for anti-inflammatory and anti-neurodegenerative disorders and more in vivo studies are required to strengthen the knowledge of their antioxidant, anticoagulant, and anti-convulsant properties. A comprehensive compilation of the phytochemicals and biological properties of lungworts is also lacking in the literature, which can provide future direction for further pharmacological research. Hence, an attempt has been made in this study to compile the phytochemicals and biological properties to not only provide the resources for the design of further research to develop the pharmacological application of lungworts, but also to highlight the gaps and provide suggestions for future development.

Acute pulmonary embolism: Appropriateness of emergency department management according to clinical guidelines

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To evaluate the frequency of acute pulmonary embolism, the use of clinical probability scores, and the appropriateness of the management of patients for whom computed tomography angiography (CTA) was requested from the emergency department for suspected acute pulmonary embolism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study of CTA studies requested from the emergency department to rule out acute pulmonary embolism. We analyzed clinical variables and the explicit use of clinical probability scores. We determined the appropriateness of management according to the Wells Score and Geneva Score and the simplified versions of these two scores, calculated retrospectively.

RESULTS

We included 534 patients (52.8% women; mean age, 73 years). The frequency of acute pulmonary embolism was 23.0% and the Wells Score was explicitly used in 15.2%. The appropriateness of the management varied depending on the clinical probability score used to assess it (54.5%-75.8%) and on whether the standard d-dimer or age-adjusted d-dimer was used.

CONCLUSIONS

The failure to use the Wells Scores in all cases does not necessarily imply inappropriate management, and the performance of global clinical judgment can be similar to that of clinical probability scores; however, specific studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Comparison of Pulmonary Emboli Management Between Pulmonary Emboli Response Team and the Conventional Method: The First Study From Iran

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) for intermediate-high risk and high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients.

METHODS

This single-blind clinical trial was performed in 2019-2021, evaluating patients with intermediate-high risk and high risk of PE. Patients in the intervention group were managed by the PERT team, and treatment plans were implemented as soon as possible. Patients in the other group received conventional PE treatments based on the hospital protocols. We compared the primary outcome of short-term mortality between the 2 groups and secondary outcomes, including right ventricle indices, hospital length-of-stay, time to decision, 30-day and in-hospital bleeding.

RESULTS

Data of 74 patients were analyzed. We found no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding short-term mortality (P = 0.642), bleeding, and other complications. However, the length-of-stay and time to decision were significantly lower in patients treated by the PERT team (P < 0.001 for both). Further evaluations revealed that patients in the intervention group had a more significant reduction in the right ventricle size and systolic pulmonary pressure compared with the control group (P = 0.015, P = 0.039, respectively). In addition, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and fractional area change increased more in the intervention group (P = 0.023, P = 0.016, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The PERT team led to significantly less time to make decisions, and it was able to select patients for advanced treatments more appropriately. Due to these facts, patients treated by PERT had significantly lower hospitalization duration and better right ventricle indices compared to controls.