Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population.
| Variables | Total (n = 224) |
Pulmonary embolism (n = 32) |
No pulmonary embolism (n = 192) |
p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Age, years | 69 ± 14 | 67 ± 15 | 69 ± 13 | 0.469 |
| Male | 127 (62) | 20 (62) | 120 (62) | 0.998 |
| Symptoms | ||||
| Fever | 153 (68) | 25 (78) | 128 (67) | 0.197 |
| Dyspnoea | 158 (70) | 24 (75) | 134 (70) | 0.550 |
| Chest discomfort | 69 (31) | 10 (31) | 59 (31) | 0.958 |
| Cough | 85 (38) | 10 (31) | 75 (39) | 0.399 |
| Syncope | 21 (9) | 4 (12) | 17 (9) | 0.512 |
| Symptoms onset to hospitalization, days Median (IQR) |
6 (2−10) |
7 (3−11) |
3 (1–6) |
0.001 |
| Late presentation | 99 (44) | 22 (69) | 77 (40) | 0.003 |
| Past diagnosis | ||||
| Hypertension | 137 (61) | 19 (59) | 118 (61) | 0.823 |
| Diabetes | 63 (28) | 11 (34) | 52 (27) | 0.524 |
| Dyslipidemia | 60 (30) | 7 (23) | 53 (31) | 0.318 |
| CAD | 35 (16) | 5 (16) | 30 (16) | 0.998 |
| Heart failure | 22 (10) | 5 (16) | 17 (9) | 0.233 |
| History of AF | 46 (21) | 4 (12) | 42 (22) | 0.220 |
| COPD | 45 (20) | 6 (19) | 39 (20) | 0.838 |
| Stroke or TIA | 17 (8) | 1 (3) | 16 (8) | 0.303 |
| CKD | 45 (20) | 6 (19) | 39 (20) | 0.838 |
| Cancer | 27 (12) | 7 (22) | 20 (10) | 0.065 |
| Serum biomarkers | ||||
| Troponin hs, n·99th percentile; peak Median (IQR) |
2.2 (0.2–17.5) |
28 (8–180) |
2 (0.2–9) |
0.025 |
| Acute cardiac injury | 69 (31) | 15 (47) | 54 (28) | 0.033 |
| D-dimer, peak; ng/ml Median (IQR) |
625 (90–2050) |
1819 (568–5017) |
555 (13–1530) |
<0.001 |
| Pro-BNP, peak; pg/ml | 4616 ± 7800 | 4076 ± 3402 | 4765 ± 3654 | 0.782 |
| Cardiovascular drug at hospitalization | ||||
| ACE-I or ARB | 98 (44) | 15 (47) | 83 (43) | 0.700 |
| β-Blocker | 59 (26) | 5 (16) | 54 (28) | 0.137 |
| Ca++ channel blocker | 35 (16) | 5 (16) | 30 (16) | 0.999 |
| Antiplatet agent | 75 (33) | 11 (34) | 64 (33) | 0.908 |
| DAPT | 12 (5) | 2 (6) | 10 (5) | 0.809 |
| Anticoagulant | 42 (19) | 4 (12) | 38 (20) | 0.328 |
| Statin | 70 (31) | 7 (22) | 63 (33) | 0.217 |
| Experimental COVID-19 therapies | ||||
| Antiviral | 119 (53) | 16 (50) | 103 (54) | 0.702 |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 178 (79) | 26 (81) | 152 (79) | 0.787 |
| Antibiotics | 165 (74) | 25 (78) | 140 (73) | 0.536 |
| Glucocorticoids | 100 (45) | 16 (50) | 84 (44) | 0.510 |
| UFH or LMWH | 181 (81) | 25 (78) | 156 (82) | 0.591 |
| Echocardiography | ||||
| LVEF (%) | 53 ± 9 | 53 ± 9 | 52 ± 9 | 0.499 |
| TAPSE, mm Median (IQR) |
21 (18–23) |
18 (14–20) |
21 (19–23) |
<0.001 |
| PAPS, mmHg Median (IQR) |
33 (30–40) |
40 (31–50) |
32 (29–40) |
<0.001 |
| Admission | ||||
| ICU | 73 (33) | 11 (34) | 62 (32) | 0.816 |
| Ward | 151 (67) | 21 (66) | 130 (68) | 0.816 |
Categorical data are presented as numbers (%). Continuous data are presented as mean ± SD or median (IQR), as appropriate. CAD, coronary artery disease; AF atrial fibrillation, COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; TIA, transient ischemic attack; CKD, chronic kidney disease; ACE-I, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; DAPT, dual antiplatelet therapy; UFH, unfractionated heparin; LMWH, low molecular weight heparin; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; sPAP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure; ICU, Intensive care unit.