title: Vena cava filters in unstable elderly patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inferior vena cava filters are associated with a reduced in-hospital all-cause case fatality rate of unstable patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Whether vena cava filters are associated with a reduced case fatality rate in adults of all ages with unstable pulmonary embolism, particularly the elderly, has not been determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unstable patients with pulmonary embolism (in shock or ventilator dependent) 1999-2008 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 21,095 unstable patients with pulmonary embolism who received thrombolytic therapy, in-hospital all-cause case fatality rate was lower in every age group who received a vena cava filter in addition to thrombolytic therapy (P = .0012 to <.0001). Patients aged ≥ 81 years showed the greatest absolute reduction of case fatality rate with filters (19.3%). Among 50,210 unstable patients who did not receive thrombolytic therapy, case fatality rate also was lower in every age group who received a vena cava filter (all P <.0001). Patients aged ≥ 81 years with vena cava filters showed the greatest absolute risk reduction of case fatality rate (27.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vena cava filters are associated with a reduced in-hospital all-cause case fatality rate in unstable adults with pulmonary embolism, irrespective of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, Mich. Electronic address: steinp@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, Mich; Department of Research, St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, Mich.
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matta
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Pulmonary embolism; Vena cava filters; Venous thromboembolism