Table 2.
Baseline characteristics comparing patients with a positive age-adjusted D-dimer test and imaging evaluations. Significant values are in bold.
| Variable | No definitive test (n = 155)* | Definitive test (n = 199)* | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female, n (%) | 78 (50.32) | 120 (60.3) | 0.06 |
| Age (years), median (IQR) | 69 (58.8–79.3) | 69 (57–80) | 0.96 |
| First D-dimer value (ng/mL), median (IQR) | 1411 (1002.3–2439.3) | 1584 (1060–3182) | 0.2 |
| D-dimer admission day, median (IQR) | 3 (2–5) | 2 (2–4) | < 0.001 |
| Padua score, median (IQR) | 4 (2–5) | 2 (1–5) | 0.002 |
| In-hospital death, n (%) | 19 (12.26) | 12 (6.03) | 0.04 |
| In-hospital death or within 3 months of discharge, n (%) | 32 (20.6) | 29 (14.6) | 0.13 |
| Anticoagulation | |||
| Chronic anticoagulation (prior to admission), n (%) | 9 (5.81) | 8 (4.02) | 0.44 |
| Anticoagulation on admission, n (%) | 86 (55.48) | 125 (62.81) | 0.16 |
| Prophylactic anticoagulation dosing (of patients anticoagulated), n (%) | 70 (81.4) | 49 (39.2) | < 0.001 |
| Symptoms during the hospitalization | |||
| Chest pain, n (%) | 27 (17.42) | 81 (40.7) | < 0.001 |
| Dyspnea, n (%) | 88 (56.77) | 127 (63.82) | 0.18 |
| Asymmetric leg swelling, n (%) | 19 (12.26) | 45 (22.61) | 0.01 |
| Cough, n (%) | 16 (10.32) | 16 (8.04) | 0.46 |
| Hemoptysis, n (%) | 3 (1.94) | 5 (2.51) | 0.72 |
| Clinical condition | |||
| Heart rate > 100 beats per minute, n (%) | 75 (48.39) | 70 (35.18) | 0.01 |
| Oxygen saturation < 95%, n (%) | 97 (62.58) | 124 (62.31) | 0.96 |
| Blood pressure under 90/60 mmHg, n (%) | 102 (65.81) | 116 (58.29) | 0.15 |
| Diagnoses | |||
| DIC during the hospitalization, n (%) | 18 (11.61) | 10 (5.03) | 0.02 |
| Pneumonia during the hospitalization, n (%) | 44 (28.39) | 28 (14.07) | 0.001 |
| Dementia during the hospitalization, n (%) | 4 (2.58) | 7 (3.52) | 0.61 |
| PICC line during the hospitalization, n (%) | 8 (5.16) | 5 (2.51) | 0.19 |
| Procedure 30 days before the hospitalization, n (%) | 9 (5.81) | 8 (4.06) | 0.45 |
| Surgery 30 days before the hospitalization, n (%) | 4 (2.6) | 8 (4.02) | 0.46 |
| Hormonal therapy, n (%) | 3 (1.94) | 9 (4.55) | 0.18 |
| Personal history of VTE, n (%) | 14 (9.03) | 10 (5.03) | 0.14 |
| Functional status before hospitalization | |||
| Independent, n (%) | 94 (61.84) | 152 (78.76) | 0.001 |
| Mentally frail, n (%) | 35 (23.03) | 22 (11.4) | 0.003 |
| Immobilization, n (%) | 23 (15.13) | 19 (9.84) | 0.13 |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Smoking, n (%) | 50 (32.26) | 67 (33.67) | 0.78 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, n (%) | 38 (24.52) | 41 (20.6) | 0.38 |
| Heart failure, n (%) | 19 (12.26) | 28 (14.07) | 0.62 |
| Obesity, n (%) | 28 (18.06) | 40 (20.1) | 0.63 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 50 (32.26) | 58 (29.15) | 0.53 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 82 (52.9) | 105 (52.76) | 0.98 |
| Stroke, n (%) | 18 (11.61) | 18 (9.05) | 0.43 |
| Malignancy, n (%) | 35 (22.58) | 47 (23.62) | 0.82 |
| Atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 5 (3.23) | 11 (5.53) | 0.30 |
| Type of test used† | |||
| Chest CT, n (%) | – | 153 (76.88) | – |
| A duplex ultrasound, n (%) | – | 62 (31.16) | – |
| V/Q scan, n (%) | – | 16 (8.04) | – |
| Primary admission etiology | |||
| Cardiac, n (%) | 20 (12.9) | 32 (16.08) | 0.40 |
| Syncope, n (%) | 6 (3.87) | 17 (8.54) | 0.08 |
| Infectious, n (%) | 58 (37.42) | 42 (21.11) | 0.001 |
| Respiratory, n (%) | 29 (18.71) | 58 (29.15) | 0.02 |
| Pain control, n (%) | 4 (2.58) | 2 (1.01) | 0.26 |
| Surgical, n (%) | 11 (7.1) | 16 (8.04) | 0.74 |
| Hepatobiliary, n (%) | 5 (3.23) | 10 (5.03) | 0.40 |
| Electrolyte abnormality, n (%) | 4 (2.58) | 4 (2.01) | 0.72 |
| Hematologic, n (%) | 8 (5.16) | 4 (2.01) | 0.10 |
| Neurological, n (%) | 10 (6.45) | 14 (7.04) | 0.83 |
*Positive test is defined according to age-adjusted D-dimer.
*Definitive test refers to a diagnostic test designed to diagnose venous thromboembolism – lower-extremity ultrasound with Doppler, ventilation-perfusion scan, or a computed tomography pulmonary angiography. This refers to tests during admission or within 3 months of discharge.
†Some patients did more than one definitive test.
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, PICC peripherally inserted central catheter.