PB0092 - Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pulmonary embolism incidence and characteristics: a 24 months perspective

Sunday, July 10, 2022

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Exhibition

Presentation Format: In-Person

Presenting Author(s)

paola sterpone

Doctor
Internal Medicine Residency Program, School of Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese
magenta, Lombardia, Italy

Co-Author(s)

MM

MATTEO MERONI

Doctor
School of Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese
VARESE, Lombardia, Italy
Walter Ageno, MD

Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
Varese, Lombardia, Italy
MD

Marco Paolo Donadini, MD, PhD

Professor of Internal Medicine
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
Varese, Lombardia, Italy

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death with a case fatality rate of 10% at 30 days. COVID-19 is associated with systemic inflammation and abnormal coagulation profile leading to an increased thromboembolic risk. Reported incidence of PE among COVID-19 patients is highly variable and mainly short-term studies are present in literature.

Aims: Evaluatethe impact of COVID-19 on incidence and clinical, laboratoristic and radiological characteristics of PE over a 24-month period

Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study on all patients diagnosed with PE in one of the seven hospitals of the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Sette Laghi, during a 24 month period, going from 12 months before (pre-COVID period) up to 12 months after (COVID period) February 21st 2020, day of first diagnosed italian case of COVID-19. Data were collected on clinical, laboratoristic and radiological characteristics and Non-COVID-19 patients were compared to COVID-19 patients.

Results: 489 patients with acute PE were identified: 217 in the pre-COVID period and 272 in the COVID period of whom 50 patients had COVID-19. The prevalence of PE in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 1.1% (50/4568). In patients with PE and COVID-19, male sex was more common (72% vs 42%;p-value < 0.01), D-Dimer values were significantly higher (> 9000 mcg/L in 50% of them vs 28% among non-COVID patients; p-value: 0.002), median Troponin T level was lower (32 ng/mL vs 14,5 ng/mL,; p-value: 0.02), distal obstruction was more common (68.4% vs 48% p-value: 0.03).

Conclusion(s): Incidence of PE has significantly increased after the onset of pandemic (55 more cases; 20%). Male sex appears to be a risk factor for PE in COVID-19 patients. Despite the high procoagulant profile of COVID-19 patients, our study found a predominantly distal distribution of PE and events appear to have lower severity indicators as compared to non-COVID-19 patients.