Deep vein thrombosis symptoms and 30-day mortality in acute pulmonary embolism

In patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE), the presence of concomitant lower-limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been associated with a higher mortality rate. The prognostic significance of DVT symptoms among these patients remains uncertain.

We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado de Enfermedad TromboEmbólica) registry to compare the 30-day mortality rate in patients with PE and concomitant lower-limb DVT, according to the presence or absence of DVT symptoms. Primary outcomes were all-cause death and PE-related death within the first 30 days.

Since March 2001 to June 2021, there were 17,742 patients with acute symptomatic PE and objectively proven concomitant lower-limb DVT. Of these, 11,984 (68%) had DVT symptoms. Most patients with or without DVT symptoms (82% vs. 81%) received low-molecular-weight heparin initially. Then, most (61% vs. 58%) switched to vitamin K antagonists. During the first 30 days of therapy, 497 patients with DVT symptoms (4.1%) and 164 (2.8%) with no DVT symptoms died (rate ratio [RR]: 1.48; 95%CI: 1.23-1.77). The rates of PE-related death were: 1.0% vs. 0.7%, respectively (RR: 1.50; 95%CI: 1.04-2.16). On multivariable analysis, patients with DVT symptoms were at increased risk for all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.49; 95%CI: 1.24-1.78), and PE-related death (aHR: 1.52; 95%CI: 1.05-2.20).

Among patients with acute symptomatic PE and concomitant lower-limb DVT, those with DVT symptoms had an increased all-cause and PE-related mortality within 30 days. Assessment of DVT symptoms would assist with risk stratification of these patients.