Table 2.
Patient characteristics and reperfusion therapy in patients with pulmonary embolism
| Total (n =644) | Age ≥65 (n =389) | Age <65 (n= 255) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyspnoea, n (%) | 527 (82.5) | 331 (85.5) | 196 (77.8) | 0.012 |
| Positive (N-terminal pro) BNP,an (%) | 150/249 (60.2) | 121/180 (67.2) | 29/69 (42.0) | <0.001 |
| Right heart strain by ECG,bn (%) | 233/499 (46.7) | 149/305 (48.9) | 84/194 (43.3) | 0.23 |
| Concomitant DVT, n (%) | 227 (35.3) | 126 (32.4) | 101 (39.6) | 0.06 |
| Oxygen saturation in room air <90%, n (%) | 174/577 (30.2) | 124/340 (36.5) | 50/237 (21.1) | <0.001 |
| Positive troponin T or I,an (%) | 99/387 (25.6) | 79/251 (31.5) | 20/136 (14.7) | <0.001 |
| Heart rate ≥110 b.p.m., n (%) | 158/619 (25.5) | 100/369 (27.1) | 58/250 (23.2) | 0.28 |
| Syncope, n (%) | 64 (10.0) | 44 (11.3) | 20 (7.9) | 0.16 |
| Massive PE,cn (%) | 39 (6.1) | 29 (7.5) | 10 (3.9) | 0.07 |
| High sPESI,dn (%) | 430 (66.8) | 304 (78.2) | 126 (49.4) | <0.001 |
| Reperfusion therapy, n (%) | 36 (5.6) | 20 (5.1) | 16 (6.3) | 0.54 |
| Systemic thrombolysis, n (%) | 21 (3.3) | 13 (3.3) | 8 (3.1) | 0.89 |
| Catheter intervention, n (%) | 10 (1.6) | 5 (1.3) | 5 (2.0) | 0.50 |
| Surgical thrombectomy, n (%) | 9 (1.4) | 3 (0.8) | 6 (2.4) | 0.09 |
aA positive biomarker test result was defined as a quantitative biomarker level above the manufacturer's assay threshold.
bRight heart strain by electrocardiography (ECG) was defined as the presence of at least one of the following signs: sinus tachycardia, incomplete or complete right bundle branch block, SI-QIII type, or negative T-waves in V2, V3, or V4 within 24 h of VTE diagnosis.
cMassive PE was defined as PE with systolic arterial hypotension (systolic blood pressure of <90 mmHg) or as PE requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the administration of catecholamines.
dA high simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) was defined as the presence of at least one of the following criteria: age >80 years, systolic systemic pressure <100 mmHg, heart rate >110 b.p.m., oxygen saturation <90%, cancer, heart failure, and chronic lung disease.9