title: Impact of advanced age on the severity of normotensive pulmonary embolism.
abstract: The prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) increases progressively with age. Less data about the impact of increasing age on the severity of PE are available. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of increasing age on the severity of normotensive PE. Retrospective analysis of clinical, laboratory, radiological and echocardiagraphic data of normotensive patients with PE was performed. According to patients' age at the moment of acute PE event, the total number of 129 normotensive PE patients was subdivided into 4 age groups. In age groups 18-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-94 years were, respectively, a number of 30, 31, 33 and 35 patients included. Percentage of women in age groups increased with advanced age (P = 0.021). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (P < 0.0001) and frequency of incomplete or complete right bundle-branch block (RBBB) (P = 0.019), of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) (P = 0.00031) and of submassive PE stadium with intermediate risk (P = 0.0016) increased significantly with growing age. Multivariable regression model confirmed an association between age and submassive PE [OR (per year) 1.04; 95 % CI, 1.02-1.07, P = 0.0020] as well as female gender and submassive PE (OR 2.45; 95 % CI, 1.10-5.50, P = 0.029) and tachycardia and submassive PE (OR 15.33; 95 % CI, 3.45-68.24, P = 0.00034). Advanced age, female gender and tachycardia are risk factors for a submassive PE with intermediate risk in normotensive PE patients. The percentage of PE patients with submassive PE, right ventricular overload, RVD, RBBB, elevated systolic PAP increases with advanced age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany. karsten.keller@unimedizin-mainz.de.|Centrum for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. karsten.keller@unimedizin-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincenz and Elisabeth Hospital Mainz (KKM), Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beule
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.|Centrum for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coldewey
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincenz and Elisabeth Hospital Mainz (KKM), Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dippold
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Catholic Clinic Mainz (KKM), Mainz, Germany.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Clinic, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörn Oliver
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Balzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Normotensive; Pulmonary artery pressure; Pulmonary embolism; Right ventricular dysfunction; Right ventricular failure; Submassive; Venous thromboembolism