Sex-based differences in patients with acute pulmonary embolism managed by a pulmonary embolism response team: a...

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most frequent acute cardiovascular condition worldwide. PE response teams (PERTs) were proposed recently to facilitate treatment implementation in PE patients. There is limited data regarding the characteristics of patients consulted by PERTs. We aimed to analyze sex-related differences in baseline characteristics, applied treatment, and prognosis of acute PE patients consulted by a local PERT. We did not seek to assess the influence of PERT on potential differences.

The study included 235 patients diagnosed with PE in the three participating hospitals between September 2017 and December 2021. Clinical and treatment data were obtained from medical records.

We found that women were older than men (median [IQR]: 66.0 [49.5-77.0] vs. 58.5 [49.0-69.3] years, P ​= ​0.02). Cough was more prevalent in men (23.0 ​% vs. 7.3 ​%, P ​= ​0.001). Smoking was more frequent in men (32.5 ​% vs. 15.6 ​%, P ​= ​0.004), whereas hormonal therapy was more frequent in women (11.0 ​% vs. 0.8 ​%, P ​= ​0.001). Hospitalized women required intubation more often than men (16.5 ​% vs. 6.3 ​%, P ​= ​0.02). Proximal deep vein thrombosis was more common in men (46.8 ​% vs. 33.9 ​%, P ​= ​0.047). Low molecular weight heparins were more often used in men (82.5 ​% vs. 66.1 ​%, P ​= ​0.004).

Most analyzed parameters did not differ between the sexes in acute PE patients treated by a PERT. Differences in risk factors are associated with well-established sex-related differences, with smoking more often reported in men and hormonal therapy more common in women. Notably, the survival rate was comparable for women and men.