Table 1 Characteristics of patients with pulmonary embolism in acute phase stratified by the presence or absence of COVID-19.
Variables | COVID patients (n = 116) | Non-COVID patients (n = 305) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Demographic characteristics | ||||
Age, years (media [SD]) | 67.21 (± 14.49) | 66.28 (± 17.18) | 0.987 | |
Male, n (%) | 57 (49.1) | 133 (43.6) | 0.308 | |
Setting | ||||
Emergency department | 67 (57.8) | 189 (62.0) | 0.429 | |
Medical wards | 49 (42.2) | 116 (38.0) | 0.429 | |
Classic risk factors for PE, n (%) | ||||
Previous venous thromboembolic event | 2 (1.7) | 31 (10.2) | < 0.001 | |
Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) | 49 (42.2) | 103 (33.8) | 0.111 | |
Recent immobilization (last month†) | 5 (4.3) | 51 (16.8) | < 0.001 | |
Recent surgery (last month) | 3 (2.6) | 31 (10.1) | 0.011 | |
Thrombophilia | 1 (0.9) | 21 (6.9) | 0.013 | |
On oestrogen therapy | 7 (6.0) | 48 (15.7) | 0.008 | |
Active cancer | 15 (12.9) | 94 (30.8) | < 0.001 | |
Cardiovascular risk factors, n (%) | ||||
Diabetes | 25 (21.6) | 53 (17.4) | 0.325 | |
Hypertension | 66 (56.9) | 157 (51.5) | 0.319 | |
Dyslipidemia | 44 (37.9) | 91 (29.8) | 0.112 | |
Smoking | 12 (10.3) | 21 (6.8) | 0.011 | |
Other comorbidities, n (%) | ||||
Asthma | 13 (11.2) | 19 (6.2) | 0.085 | |
COPD | 7 (6.0) | 32 (10.4) | 0.159 | |
Cerebrovascular disease | 10 (8.6) | 13 (4.3) | 0.079 | |
Coronary artery disease | 6 (5.2) | 14 (4.6) | 0.802 | |
Chronic kidney disease | 5 (4.3) | 23 (7.5) | 0.235 | |
Chronic heart failure | 5 (4.3) | 16 (5.2) | 0.694 | |
Chronic liver disease | 5 (4.3) | 3 (1.0) | 0.026 | |
Autoimmune disease | 11 (9.5) | 13 (4.3) | 0.039 | |
Vital signs at the time of PE the diagnosis | ||||
Heart rate, bpm (media [SD]) | 95 (± 14) | 73 (± 13) | 0.047 | |
Respiratory rate, bpm (media [SD]) | 27 (± 31) | 20 (± 24) | < 0.001 | |
Systolic blood pressure, mmHg (media [SD]) | 126 (± 21) | 127 (± 22) | 0.855 | |
Systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, n (%) | 2 (1.7) | 12 (3.9) | < 0.001 | |
O2 saturation (media [SD]) | 90 (± 4) | 94 (± 4) | < 0.001 | |
PaO2/FiO2 ratio (median [IQR]) | 240 (115–345) | 319 (268–395) | < 0.001 | |
Laboratory findings at the time of PE diagnosis | ||||
Leukocytes, cells/mL (median [IQR]) | 8865 (6954–12,067) | 9320 (7580–12,150) | 0.225 | |
Neutrophils, cells/mL (median [IQR]) | 6750 (4725–9725) | 6850 (4795–9200) | 0.844 | |
Lymphocytes, cells/mL (median [IQR]) | 1100 (800–1700) | 1500 (1000–2100) | < 0.001 | |
Platelets, cells/mL (median [IQR]) | 240.000 (174.000– 305.000) | 235.000 (181.000–290.000) | 0.848 | |
Haemoglobin, g/dL (median [IQR]) | 13.15 (12.10–14.48) | 13.50 (12.13–14.90) | 0.415 | |
D-dimer, ng/mL [median [IQR]) | 5530 (2720–15,950) | 4200 (2380–9230) | 0.036 | |
C-reactive protein, mg/L (median [IQR]) | 54.50 (11.70–125.60) | 47.10 (12.65–95.00) | 0.387 | |
Creatinine, mg/dL (median [IQR]) | 0.88 (0.74–1.13) | 0.92 (0.80–1.14) | 0.270 | |
Lactate dehydrogenase, UI/L (median [IQR]) | 265 (213–352) | 222 (184–288) | < 0.001 | |
Lactic acid, mmol/L (median [IQR]) | 2.46 (1.87–3.21) | 1.75 (1.14–2.40) | < 0.001 | |
Troponin, ng/L (median [IQR]) | 0.43 (0.01–0.85) | 0.12 (0.01–0.60) | 0.068 | |
NT-proBNP, pg/mL (median [IQR]) | 318 (169–1221) | 566 (149–3040) | 0.392 | |
Right ventricular dysfunction* | 9 (7.7) | 54 (17.7) | 0.007 | |
Deep vein thrombosis, n (%)** | 14 (12.0) | 100 (32.7) | < 0.001 | |
Outcomes | ||||
Transfer to ICU, n (%) | 11 (9.5) | 15 (4.9) | 0.084 | |
Need for mechanical ventilation, n (%) | 10 (8.6) | 4 (1.3) | < 0.001 | |
In-hospital death, n (%) | 6 (5.2) | 33 (10.8) | 0.074 | |
Bleeding in acute phase | 4 (3.4) | 23 (7.6) | 0.124 | |
Length of stay, days (median [IQR]) | 9.5 (6.0–20.2) | 4.5 (1.0–12.2) | < 0.001 | |
Long-term complications | ||||
Recurrence VTE, n (%) | 0 | Provoked PE 12 (3.9) | Unprovoked PE 25 (8.1) | < 0.001 |
CTEPH, n (%) | 9 (7.7) | 34 (11.1) | 0.215 | |