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[Pulmonary thromboembolism in the elderly]
J M Calvo Romero1, M Pérez Miranda, P Bureo Dacal
1Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Regional Universitario Infanta Cristina, Badajoz.
Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|April 2, 2003
Summary
Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) presents similarly in elderly and younger patients, though deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is less common in older individuals. However, atypical presentations and normal oxygen gradients are rare in elderly PTE cases.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Cardiology
Background:
- Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a significant health concern, particularly in the elderly population.
- Understanding age-related differences in PTE presentation and outcomes is crucial for effective diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in elderly patients.
- To compare the clinical features and outcomes of PTE between elderly and non-elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 154 consecutive patients diagnosed with PTE.
- Comparison of characteristics between patients >70 years old and those <70 years old.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients (>70 years) more frequently had prior cardiopulmonary disease (41.1% vs 23.4%).
- Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was less frequently observed in elderly patients (36.7% vs 53.1%).
- Atypical PTE symptoms, signs, and normal alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients were infrequent in the elderly group.
Conclusions:
- PTE characteristics are largely similar across age groups, with a notable decrease in DVT prevalence among the elderly.
- While hospital mortality may be higher in older patients, this did not reach statistical significance.
- Atypical presentations are rare in elderly patients with PTE, underscoring the importance of considering PTE even with non-classical findings.