Table 1.
Patients’ characteristics at baseline (time of PE event) and 6‐month follow‐up
| All study patients (n = 101) | Baseline (admission for acute PE event) | Follow‐up (6 months after PE event) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at PE event (years) | 69.0 (56.5‐75.0) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Male sex | 52 (51.5%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 28.1 (25.4‐31.4) (n = 100) | 28.4 (25.0‐31.3) (n = 97) | .229 |
| Risk factors for VTE | |||
| Previous deep vein thrombosis | 29 (29.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Previous pulmonary embolism | 12 (12.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Thrombophilia | 5 (5.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Trauma/surgerya | 15 (14.9%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Immobilization or recent long travela | 19 (19.0%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Pregnancy/postpartum periodb | 0 (0%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Cancerc | 11 (11.0%) (n = 100) | 17 (17.0%) (n = 100) | .031 |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Chronic (left) heart failure | 14 (14.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Heart failure with reduced LVEF (<40%) (HFrEF) | 3 (21.4%) | ||
| Heart failure with midrange reduced LVEF (40%‐49%) (HFmrEF) | 5 (35.7%) | ||
| Heart failure with preserved LVEF (≥50%) (HFpEF) | 4 (28.6%) | ||
| LVEF unkown | 2 (14.3%) | ||
| Coronary artery disease | 18 (18.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Peripheral artery disease | 7 (8.5%) (n = 82) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Arterial hypertension | 65 (64.4%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 (11.9%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Hyperlipidemia | 30 (29.7%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Previous stroke | 5 (5.0%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Chronic pulmonary diseased | 13 (13.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Renal insufficiencye | 10 (10.6%) (n = 94) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Depressionf | 9 (10.2%) (n = 88) | 14 (15.9%) (n = 88) | .063 |
| Symptoms | |||
| Acute onset of symptoms (<24 h before admission) | 46 (45.5%) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Dyspnea (NYHA ≥II) | 94 (93.1%) | 47 (47.0%) (n = 100) | <.001 |
| NYHA class II | ‐ | 28 (28.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ |
| NYHA class III | ‐ | 18 (18.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ |
| NYHA class IV | ‐ | 1 (1.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ |
| Chest pain | 59 (59.0%) (n = 100) | 20 (20.6%) (n = 97) | <.001 |
| Syncope | 14 (14.0%) (n = 100) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Leg swelling or leg pain | 31 (31.0%) (n = 100) | 37 (38.5%) (n = 96) | .568 |
| Vital signs | |||
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) < 100 mm Hg | 12 (12.0%) (n = 100) | 0 (0%) (n = 85) | Not calculable |
| Tachycardia (heart rate ≥ 100 bpm) | 36 (36.0%) (n = 100) | 1 (1.1%) (n = 90) | <.001 |
| Hypoxiaf | 23 (27.7%) (n = 83) | ‐ | ‐ |
| Transthoracic echocardiography | |||
| RV > LV | 24 (44.4%) (n = 54) | 3 (3.6%) (n = 84) | <.001 |
| RV D1 > 4.2 cm | ‐ | 9 (26.5%) (n = 34) | ‐ |
| Paradoxical septal movement | 19 (43.2%) (n = 44) | 2 (2.3%) (n = 87) | <.001 |
| Absence of the inspiratory collapse of the IVC | 21 (40.4%) (n = 52) | 2 (2.7%) (n = 75) | <.001 |
| TAPSE <1.6 cm | ‐ | 2 (3.1%) (n = 65) | ‐ |
| TR jet velocity ≥2.8 m/s | 16 (50.0%) (n = 32) | 17 (25.4%) (n = 67) | .219 |
| Systolic PA pressure >50 mm Hg | 14 (33.3%) (n = 42) | 7 (10.9%) (n = 64) | .125 |
| Reduced LV EF (<50%) | 10 (18.2%) (n = 55) | 7 (7.7%) (n = 91) | .016 |
| Electrocardiogram | |||
| SIQIII‐type pattern | 33 (34.7%) (n = 95) | 4 (4.4%) (n = 90) | <.001 |
| Negative T‐waves in leads V1 to V3 | 38 (40.0%) (n = 95) | 9 (10.0%) (n = 90) | <.001 |
| Incomplete or complete RBBB | 17 (17.9%) (n = 95) | 16 (17.8%) (n = 90) | .554 |
| Laboratory biomarkers | |||
| hsTnT ≥14 pg/mL | 52 (62.7%) (n = 83) | 15 (24.2%) (n = 62) | <.001 |
| NT‐proBNP ≥600 pg/mL | 43 (55.8%) (n = 77) | 7 (11.3%) (n = 62) | <.001 |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; EF, ejection fraction; hsTnT, high sensitive troponin T; IVC, inferior vena cava; LV, left ventricle; NT‐proBNP, N‐terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; PA, pulmonary artery; PE, pulmonary embolism; RBBB, right bundle branch block; RV, right ventricle; RVD1, right ventricle diameter 1; TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; TR, tricuspid regurgitant; VTE, venous thromboembolism.
Within 4 weeks prior to PE index event.
Postpartum period of within 6 weeks prior to PE index event.
Active or within 6 months prior to PE event.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and interstitial lung disease.
Glomerular filtration rate of ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2.
O2 saturation of <90% or partial pressure of O2 <60 mm Hg (8 kPa) in arterial blood gas analysis.