title: The impact of an aging population on the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: comparison of young and elderly patients.
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 > or =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 > or =65 years and high comorbidity are risk factors for pulmonary embolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Internal Medicine Unit. Milano MI, Italy. castelli39@interfree.it
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergamaschini
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sailis
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porro
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies