Investigation of the factors affecting the mortality of patients over 80 years of age diagnosed with acute pulmonary thromboembolism

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate the factors affecting the 30-day mortality of patients over 80 years of age diagnosed with acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Materials and method: This descriptive, retrospective, and single-center study reviewed the medical records of patients over 80 years of age who were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism between January 1, 2008, and April 30, 2023. The factors associated with mortality in patients who had died were examined. The recorded values of factors considered to be the determinants of 30-day mortality were also determined. Results: This study included 113 patients, with a mean age of 83.7 ± 2.7 years, and comprised of 68 (60.2%) females. During the one-month follow-up period, 30 patients (26.5%) died of acute pulmonary thromboembolism or related complications. No statistically significant difference in age and gender was observed between the exitus and non-exitus groups (p > 0.05). Moreover, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of hypertension and diabetes (p > 0.05), whereas other comorbidities were statistically significantly higher in the exitus group (p < 0.05). In the linear regression analysis, heart failure (p < 0.001), D-dimer level (p = 0.019), partial arterial oxygen pressure (p < 0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p < 0.001), and recent history of major surgery (p = 0.021) were found to be factors that affected the mortality. Conclusion: The presence of comorbidities, poor hemodynamic findings, poor oxygenation, high pulmonary artery pressure, and high D-dimer levels may be mortality indicators in acute pulmonary thromboembolism patients over 80 years of age. Keywords: Pulmonary Embolism; Mortality; Ages.