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First published on December 26, 2007
Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis 2007, doi:10.1177/1076029607308860

Article

The Impact of an Aging Population on the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism: Comparison of Young and Elderly Patients

Roberto Castelli, MD*, Luigi Bergamaschini, MD, Patrizia Sailis, MD, Giuseppe Pantaleo, PhD, and Fernando Porro, MD

IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: castelli39{at}interfree.it.


  Abstract
The influence of age on predisposing factors, diagnostic tests, and clinical presentation of pulmonary embolism was evaluated in 582 subjects with suspected pulmonary embolism (180 aged <65 years; 402 aged ≥65 years) consecutively enrolled at the Emergency Department. Pulmonary embolism was confirmed in 40% of patients, 75% of those were aged >65 years. Age was directly related to the diagnosis, and the observed probability was higher than the expected probability in the 70 to 79 year subgroup. Score at the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale significantly increased as a function of both age and pulmonary embolism. Dyspnea, syncope, jugular distension, and history of previous venous thromboembolism were more frequently observed in elderly patients. In-hospital mortality rate among the elderly and younger patients was 2% and 0.2%, respectively. The authors conclude that age ≥65 years and high comorbidity are risk factors for pulmonary embolism.


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