[Lung embolism in the elderly].
Elderly people have an increased risk of suffering from thrombo-embolic events. Lung embolism is often found as a cause of death in autopsies in elderly people. However, it is unknown whether the increased age is a risk factor per se or whether elderly people suffer more often from co-morbidities associated with a higher thrombo-embolic risk. Immobility is the most important risk factor for thrombo-embolic events. Other risk factors include trauma, surgery, venous stase, genetic factors (thrombophilia) and a history of past thrombo-embolic events. Although the probability of suffering from a thrombo-embolic event increases with age, it can be difficult to find the correct diagnosis in elderly people: symptoms like dyspnoe or chest pain might be explained by other cardio-pulmonary diseases. In this review, we would like to give an overview about the diagnostic and therapeutic steps in elderly people.
Leuppi
J D
JD
Pneumologie, Universitätskliniken, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. jleuppi@uhbs.ch
Howarth
N
N
Janssens
J-P
JP
Tamm
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality
D000925:Anticoagulants