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Dyspnea after pulmonary embolism: a nation-wide population-based case-control study
Lars T Nilsson1, Therese Andersson1, Flemming Larsen2
1Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Pulmonary Circulation
|October 7, 2021
Summary
Dyspnea is common after pulmonary embolism (PE). This study found PE survivors have significantly higher rates of exertional and wake-up dyspnea compared to the general population, suggesting a post-PE syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dyspnea is a frequent symptom following pulmonary embolism (PE).
- While often attributed to comorbidities or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a broader post-PE syndrome is suspected.
- Understanding the prevalence and predictors of dyspnea post-PE is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and predictors of dyspnea in Swedish patients surviving a pulmonary embolism.
- To compare dyspnea rates in PE survivors with the general population.
- To explore the potential existence of a post-pulmonary embolism syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, population-based study utilizing the Swedish National Patient Registry.
- Identified 5793 patients diagnosed with acute PE in 2005; 3510 survivors were invited to participate.
- 2105 PE survivors completed a dyspnea and comorbidity questionnaire; data compared to 1905 general population controls.
Main Results:
- PE survivors reported substantially higher prevalences of exertional dyspnea (53.0% vs. 17.3%) and wake-up dyspnea (12.0% vs. 1.7%) compared to controls.
- These significant differences persisted after adjustments and propensity score matching.
- Increased dyspnea risk was most pronounced in younger PE patients.
Conclusions:
- Self-reported dyspnea is common in individuals with a history of pulmonary embolism.
- The findings support the hypothesis of a prevalent post-pulmonary embolism syndrome.
- Further research is warranted to investigate and characterize this syndrome.
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