By Katherine Kozlowski, Medical author and contributor to Vein News and VeinsVeinsVeins.com
Clinicians from China investigated the risk factors and most likely sites of occurrence in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). They also assessed the efficacy and value of scoring systems in determining risk of PE in patients with DVT.
SUBJECTS:
692 DVT patients were included.
226 (32.66%)patients did not have PE. (NPE group)
330 (47.67%) patients had silent/asymptomatic PE (SPE).
136 (19.65%) patients had featuring/symptomatic PE (FPE).
RESULTS:
There was higher occurrence of PE in the bilateral pulmonary arteries (53.43%).
There was no difference in Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) score based on location.
Independent risk factors for pulmonary embolism were male gender, DVT location, and previous surgery.
The most common risk factors for symptomatic PE was DVT location, history of COPD, and past surgical intervention.
CONCLUSION:
Pulmonary embolism secondary to deep vein thrombosis occurs mostly in bilateral pulmonary arteries.
Increased risk of PE is associated with male gender, DVT location, and previous surgery.
Reference:
Chen X, Liu X, Liu J et al. Pulmonary embolism secondary to deep vein thrombosis: A retrospective and observational study for clinical characteristics and risk stratification. Phlebology 2021; 36(8): 627-635.