Changing Trends in Hospital Admissions for Pulmonary Embolism in Spain from 2001 to 2018

National Trends in Pulmonary Embolism Visit in United State Emergency Departments and Associated Costs (2006-2018)

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) poses substantial morbidity and mortality risks, necessitating timely and accurate management in emergency departments (EDs). Objectives: This study explores the trends in PE presentations to US EDs from 2006 to 2018 and assesses the impact of different factors on management and cost. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted using the US Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) PE ED visits database. Data on ED visits, dispositions, and related costs were collected and analyzed. Results: From 2006 to 2018 there were more than 2 million PE ED visits in the US. There was an increase in visits per 100,000 persons from 42.17 in 2006-2008 to 64.27 in 2016-2018 (p value < 0.001). The proportion of uninsured patients declined from 5.07% to 4.70%, and the percentage of Medicaid-insured patients increased. There was a decrease in the admission rates from 92.47% to 75.97% in 2016-2018 (p value < 0.001). The mean cost per admitted patient increased from $32,794 to $47,344 in 2016-2018 (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: From 2006 to 2018, PE ED visits in the US increased with a noticeable decrease in admission rates and length of stay, likely secondary to advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities like computed tomography pulmonary angiography and novel oral anticoagulants. However, the observed rising healthcare costs pose challenges to sustainable management. Further research studies are needed to address cost-effective strategies.

Regional Disparities and Trends in Venous Thromboembolism Mortality in Spain (1999-2022)

AIM

This study aims to analyze trends in venous thromboembolism (VTE) mortality in the Spanish Autonomous Communities (ACs) from 1999 to 2022, with a focus on identifying regional disparities and informing targeted public health interventions.

METHODS

Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were calculated using the European standard population as a reference. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to identify significant changes in mortality trends, and geographical analysis was conducted using Bayesian inference to assess regional variations in mortality risk.

RESULTS

From 1999 to 2022, Spain recorded 59,515 VTE-related deaths, with a higher proportion in women (59.4%) compared to men (40.6%). On a nationwide scale, VTE ASMRs showed a general decline for both men and women, with rates decreasing from 11.0 to 5.1 per 100,000 in men and from 9.2 to 4.4 per 100,000 in women. However, this decline was not uniform across all regions or demographic groups. Notably, mortality rates among younger individuals, particularly men, increased during the study period, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Analysis revealed significant regional disparities, with higher mortality risks observed in Extremadura, Aragon, Navarre, and Andalusia, particularly for women.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insights into the complex landscape of VTE mortality in Spain. While the overall decline in mortality is encouraging, persistent regional disparities and rising rates among younger individuals underscore the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions.

Categorization of Patients With Pulmonary Embolism by Charlson Comorbidity Index

BACKGROUND

Short-term outcomes of pulmonary embolism are closely related to right ventricular dysfunction and patient's hemodynamic status, but also to individual comorbidity profile. However, the impact of patients' comorbidities on survival during pulmonary embolism might be underrated. Although the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is the most extensively studied comorbidity index for detecting comorbidity burden, studies analyzing the impact of CCI on pulmonary embolism patients' survival are limited.

METHODS

We used the German nationwide inpatient sample to analyze all hospitalized patients with pulmonary embolism in Germany 2005-2020 and calculated CCI for each patient, compared the CCI classes (very low: CCI = 0 points, mild: CCI = 1-2 points, moderate: CCI = 3-4, high severity: CCI >4 points) and impact of CCI class on outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,373,145 hospitalizations of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (53.0% females, 55.9% aged ≥70 years) were recorded in Germany between 2005 and 2020; the CCI class stratified them. Among these, 100,156 (7.3%) were categorized as very low; 221,545 (16.1%) as mild; 394,965 (28.8%) as moderate; and 656,479 (47.8%) as patients with a high comorbidity burden according to CCI class. In-hospital case fatality increased depending on the CCI class: 3.6% in very low, 6.5% in mild, 12.1% in moderate, and 22.1% in high CCI class (P < .001). CCI class was associated with increased in-hospital case fatality (odds ratio 2.014; 95% confidence interval, 2.000-2.027; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Our study results may help practitioners to better understand and measure the association between an aggravated comorbidity profile and increased in-hospital case fatality in patients with pulmonary embolism.

In-Hospital versus Out-of-Hospital Pulmonary Embolism: Clinical Characteristics, Biochemical Markers and Echocardiographic Indices

BACKGROUND

A significant proportion of pulmonary embolisms (PEs) occurs in patients during hospitalisation for another reason. However, limited data regarding differences between out-of-hospital PE (OHPE) and in-hospital PE (IHPE) is available. We aimed to compare these groups regarding their clinical characteristics, biochemical markers, and echocardiographic indices.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single-arm, single-centre study. Adult consecutive patients with non-COVID-related PE from September 2019 to March 2022 were included and followed up for 12 months.

RESULTS

The study included 180 (84 women) patients, with 89 (49.4%) suffering from IHPE. IHPE patients were older, they more often had cancer, were diagnosed earlier after the onset of symptoms, they had less frequent pain and higher values of high sensitivity troponin I and brain natriuretic peptide levels compared to OHPE patients. Echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction was detected in similar proportions in the 2 groups. IHPE had increased in-hospital mortality (14.6% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.008) and similar post-discharge to 12-month mortality with OHPE patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective cohort study, IHPE differed from OHPE patients regarding age, comorbidities, symptoms, and levels of biomarkers associated with RV dysfunction. IHPE patients had higher in-hospital mortality compared to OHPE patients and a similar risk of death after discharge.

Sex differences in temporal trends in main and secondary pulmonary embolism diagnosis and case fatality rates: 2003-2019

AIMS

There is controversy regarding the incidence and outcomes of pulmonary embolism (PE) according to sex. Our aim was to address sex differences in temporal trends in main and secondary hospital PE diagnoses, management and case fatality rates (CFR).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Retrospective analysis of Spain´s National Healthcare System hospital database, years 2003-2019, for patients ≥18 years with main or secondary PE diagnosis. Trends by sex in hospital diagnosis, use of procedures, and CFRs were analysed by joinpoint and Poisson regression models. Of 339 469 PE diagnoses, 52% were in women. Sixty-five percent were main diagnosis, 35.2% secondary. Total annual diagnoses and frequentation rates increased similarly in men and women: average annual percent change (AAPC): 2.0% (95% CI, 1.3-2.6; P < 0.005). Secondary PEs were more common in men (37.8% vs. 32.9%, P < 0.001). Men showed greater comorbidity than women (Charlson index 2.22 ± 0.01 vs. 1.74 ± 0.01, P < 0.001), particularly cancer in the secondary diagnosis group (40.9% vs. 31.6%, P < 0.001). CFRs for PE as main diagnosis were comparable and decreased in parallel in men (from 13.8% in 2003 to 7.3% in 2019) and women (from 13.1% in 2003 to 6.9% in 2019). However, for PE as secondary diagnosis, CFRs remained higher (P < 0.001) in men (from 42.5% in 2003 to 26.2% in 2019) than women (from 34.4% in 2003 to 22.8% in 2019).

CONCLUSION

PE hospital diagnosis increased significantly between 2003 and 2019 in men and women for both main and secondary diagnosis. Although in-hospital CFR decreased one third still remains very high, especially in men with secondary PE diagnosis.

Evaluation of the Khorana predictive thrombotic risk and thromboprophylaxis score in cancer patients in a third level hospital

Introduction

Current clinical guidelines do not recommend the routine use of thromboprophylaxis in cancer primary unselected patients. Identifying cancer patients who could be beneficiaries of thrombotic prophylaxis is a real challenge. We aimed to analyse the application of Khorana score in cancer patients. We also tried to evaluate the prescription of primary thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients at risk of venous thromboembolic disease (VTED).

Methods

A retrospective observational study of survival of hospitalised patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (PE) at the Hospital Central de la Defensa from January 2009 to March 2018. They were stratified into tumour PE (TPE) and non-tumour PE (nTPE). A case-control study was also carried out by TPE patients and non PE cancer patients (nPEC).

Results

108 patients were diagnosed with TPE, 260 nTPE and 324 nPEC. Gynaecological tumours were the most frequent (23.1%), followed by lung, digestive and urological cancer (20.4% each) in the TPE group. Death risk was 1.9 times higher in cancer patients (95% CI: 1.23-2.8) (p < 0.001). Khorana score was ≥3 points in 9.7% of TPE and 3.1% of nPEC compared to 26.2% of TPE and 9.9% of nPEC with Khorana score ≥2 points (p < 0.001). 7.4% of TPE patients received thromboprophylaxis. Khorana score in TPE patients without thromboprophylaxis was ≥3 points in the 9% and ≥2 points in the 24%.

Conclusions

There is an underutilisation of thromboprophylaxis in our cancer patients and mainly in those with high risk of VTED, as well as poor adherence to the Khorana score. More studies are needed to validate these findings and to optimise predictive strategies in the management of these patients.

Prognostic value of the Charlson index in mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism associated with cancer versus non-tumour pulmonary embolism

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to analyse comorbidity, survival, and mortality from pulmonary embolism (PE) in people with cancer and without cancer. And to determine whether the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) predicts mortality in the short and long term in this population.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study on survival in patients hospitalized in the Hospital Central de la Defensa from 1-01-2009 to 15-03-2018, stratifying into tumour PE group (EPT) and non-tumour PE group (EPnT), all of whom were classified according to age adjusted CCI.

RESULTS

A total of 368 patients were diagnosed with PE, 108 with associated cancer. The mean CCI in the EPT group was 7.2 and 4.5 in the EPnT group. Patients with PE and CCI>5 were 10.7 times more likely to die (95%CI 1.5-77.6) compared to CCI 0 (P=.019). The CCI of patients with EPT was 2.6 points higher (95%CI 1.9-33) than EPnT patients (P<.001). Cancer patients were 1.9 times more likely to die (95%CI 1.23-2.8) and had higher mortality at 30 days and at one year after the event, with a median survival of 8.98 years and 3.4 years, respectively (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The CCI in EPT is an independent risk factor related to mortality. The CCI can predict higher mortality in the short and long term in patients with PE.