Table 1. Patient characteristics ( n = 1,015) .
| Intermediate-high risk PE N = 97 |
Low- or intermediate-low risk PE N = 918 |
p -Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical characteristics, | |||
| Age, y (mean ± SD) | 70.4 ± 16.2 | 66.8 ± 16.3 | 0.04 |
| Age > 80 y | 28 (30) | 166 (18) | 0.01 |
| Male gender | 43 (44) | 443 (48) | 0.52 |
| Risk factors for VTE, | |||
| Cancer a | 7 (7.2) | 108 (12) | 0.24 |
| Recent surgery b | 7 (7.2) | 102 (11) | 0.24 |
| History of VTE | 8 (8.2) | 180 (20) | < 0.01 |
| Immobilization c | 22 (37) | 211 (23) | < 0.01 |
| Comorbid diseases | |||
| Chronic lung disease | 10 (11) | 93 (11) | 1.00 |
| Chronic heart disease | 5 (5.2) | 39 (4.2) | 0.60 |
| Clinical symptoms and signs at presentation | |||
| Syncope | 29 (33) | 138 (15) | < 0.001 |
| Chest pain | 43 (36) | 413 (45) | 0.11 |
| Dyspnea | 76 (85) | 771 (84) | 1.00 |
| Heart rate ≥ 110/min | 42 (43) | 205 (22) | < 0.001 |
| Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO 2 ) < 90% | 57 (59) | 147 (26) | < 0.001 |
| SBP < 100 mm Hg | 8 (8.2) | 38 (4.1) | 0.07 |
| sPESI 12 | |||
| Low-risk | 0 (0) | 347 (38) | <0.001 |
| High-risk | 97 (100) | 571 (62) | < 0.001 |
| Echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers, n (%) | |||
| RV dysfunction | 97 (100) | 29/242 12 | <0.001 |
| cTnI > 0 ng/mL | 97 (100) | 115/564 20 | <0.001 |
Abbreviations: cTnI, cardiac troponin I; PE, pulmonary embolism; RV, right ventricle; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SD, standard deviation; sPESI, simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index; VTE, venous thromboembolism.
a
Active or under treatment in the last year.
b
In the previous month.
c
Immobilized patients defined as nonsurgical patients with limited mobility (i.e., total bed rest with bathroom privileges) for ≥ 4 days in the month prior to PE diagnosis.