Related Experiment Videos
Pulmonary embolism: differences in presentation between older and younger patients
Suzanne Timmons1, Maeve Kingston, Mehboob Hussain
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tralee General Hospital, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland. suzannetimmons@hotmail.com
Age and Ageing
|November 6, 2003
Summary
Older individuals often exhibit atypical symptoms of acute pulmonary embolism, with collapse being a key indicator, potentially delaying diagnosis. This highlights the need for increased awareness in geriatric pulmonary embolism cases.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Pulmonary embolism (PE) incidence rises with age.
- Classical PE symptoms may be absent in older adults.
- Atypical presentations can complicate diagnosis in the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical presentation of acute pulmonary embolism in younger versus older patients.
- To identify age-related differences in PE symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 60 confirmed acute pulmonary embolism cases over 3 years.
- Inclusion of spiral computed tomography (CT) confirmed PE.
- Blinded review of radiological films, electrocardiographs, and clinical data.
Main Results:
- Older patients less frequently reported pleuritic chest pain (P < 0.02).
- Collapse was a more common presentation in older adults (24%) versus younger (3%) (P < 0.02).
- Older individuals showed higher rates of cyanosis (P = 0.05) and hypoxia (P < 0.04).
Conclusions:
- Older individuals present atypically for acute pulmonary embolism, risking diagnostic delays.
- Collapse is a critical symptom in older PE patients, even without chest pain.
- Awareness of atypical presentations is crucial for timely PE diagnosis and treatment in the elderly.