Pulmonary embolism as a cause of death

To investigate the present status of pulmonary embolism as the cause of death in a general hospital population, the author reviewed 610 autopsy reports, and associated hospital records for the period 1985-1989. Pulmonary embolism was the major contributing factor to the cause of death in 61 (10%) of the 610 autopsies performed. Of the patients dying from major pulmonary embolism, in only 12 (19.7%) was the diagnosis suspected antemortem; and in 44 (72%) deep vein thrombosis was detected in the femoral-popliteal vein at autopsy. The mean age of patients dying from major pulmonary embolism was 52.2 years, and 31 (50.8%) victims were under the age of 50 years. Fifty-six (92%) of patients dying from pulmonary embolism were of African descent while 5 (8%) were of East Indian descent. Without autopsies. 49 (80.3%) patients dying of pulmonary embolism would have been incorrectly certified and registered in death statistics based on clinical certification only.