Summary
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common disorder with high mortality and morbidity rates.
However, population-based information on its incidence and prognosis remains limited.
We conducted a large epidemiology study collecting data on hospitalisation for PE
(from 2002 to 2012) in a population of about 13 million people in Northwestern Italy.
Patients were identified using the ICD-9-CM codes: 415.11, 415.19; gender and age
specific incidence rate of PE during the study period were estimated using the resident
population for each year of the study. Furthermore, time trends in the in-hospital
PE-related mortality and case fatality rate were calculated. Results were adjusted
for possible confounders. A total of 60,853 patients (mean age 72.8 years, ± 14.1,
59.6 % females) with PE were included; the overall crude incidence rate for the entire
study period was 55.4 and 40.6 events per year per 100,000 inhabitants for women and
men, respectively (p < 0.001). However, this difference was completely lost after
standardisation for age. The incidence of PE significantly increased in both genders
during the study period. In-hospital case fatality rate significantly decreased throughout
the study period (p < 0.001) in women (from 15.6 % to 10.2 %) and in men (from 17.6
% to 10.1 %). The observed decrease of the in-hospital case-fatality throughout the
study period remained significant also after adjustment for possible confounders.
In conclusion, time trends over an 11-year period show an increasing incidence of
PE, but a significant reduction in mortality during hospitalisation. Reduction in
the case fatality rate remained significant after adjustment for these possible confounders.
Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Keywords
Venous thromboembolism - pulmonary embolism - mortality - prognosis
