Pulmonary embolism, seasonal variations in admission to hospital, and the association of calf deep vein thrombosiswith pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Objective: To look for the presence or absence of seasonal variation of pulmonary embolism (PE). To analyze the effect of age, sex and the presence or absence of deep vein thrombosis(DVT) and its risk factors on the occurrence of PE. To analyze the ECG changes and the presence or absence of sinus tachycardia in patients with acute PE. Method: One hundred three patients with PE were studied retrospectively, during the years 2002-2007 at the intensive and respiratory care unit and general medical units in Ibn-Sena Teaching Hospital. Results: One hundred three patients with PE were studied. The age of the patients correlates significantly with the presence of PE being highest between 21-50 year of age, with p-value of <0.001. There were no seasonal variations in the distribution of PE with P-value of 0.06. Females significantly outnumbered male patients with P-value of 0.002. There was no statistically significant association between the clinically evident DVT or its absence and the diagnosis of PE with p-value 0.278. The association between the presence of PE and positive doppler ultrasound for DVT were significant with p-value of 0.023. There was a significant association between the presence of PE and sinus tachycardia with p-value of <0.001, and negative correlation with the classical ECG changes. Conclusion: There was no seasonal variation in the distribution of PE. There was significant association between the presence of PE and positive doppler ultrasound for DVT. Sinus tachycardias were commonly present with acute PE. We need to have more sophisticated facilities for proper diagnosis of PE.

Seasonal variations and the risk of venous thromboembolism: A narrative review article

“…103 patients with PE diagnosis were studied by Al Hayali et al in Iraq from 2002 to 2007; there was no meaningful seasonal variation in incidence of PE in this study. 14 Lee et al reported no seasonal variations in incidence of VTE in Taiwan. The total of 2774 patients older than 18 years old with VTE diagnosis were included in this study.…”