Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have described differences in the characteristics of patients with venous thromboembolic disease according to sex.
Aims and objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the differences between men and women in the clinical characteristics of patients admitted for pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) in Spain in 10 years.
Methods: The data was collected from the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) of the National System of Health and private hospitals. We identified all patients admitted with PE as primary diagnosis over the years 2002 to 2011. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and comorbidities, use of diagnostic tests, length of hospitalization, hospital mortality and cost of hospitalization, making a comparison between men and women.
Results: We analyzed 115.671 patients (54.3% women). Females had a higher age (67.8 ± 15.3 versus 72.8 ± 15.8 years) and less comorbidity (> 2 comorbidity index: 20.8% in men versus 14.8% in women). The computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed more frequently in men (57.8% versus 53.4%); on the other hand, the V/Q lung scintigraphy was carried out usually in women (20.3% versus 17.1%). The average hospital stay was statistically significant lower in men (11,19 ± 11.06 versus 11.63 ± 10,50 days), as well as mortality (9.71% versus 10.67%). There were no differences in the cost of hospital stay between sexes (4.501,30 ± 2.999,22 vs. 4.471,64 ± 3.000,27 EUR, p=0,09).
Conclusions: In our study, we found differences in patients admitted for PE according to sex. In comparison with men, females have a higher age and a less comorbidity, are subjected to CTA less frequently, have a longer average hospital stay and increased mortality.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015