The European respiratory journal : official journal of the European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology
-
Meta Analysis
Identification of intermediate-risk patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism.
The identification of normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) at high risk of adverse PE-related clinical events (i.e. intermediate-risk group) is a major challenge. We combined individual patient data from six studies involving 2874 normotensive patients with PE. We developed a prognostic model for intermediate-risk PE based on the clinical presentation and the assessment of right ventricular dysfunction and myocardial injury. ⋯ We used these variables to construct a multidimensional seven-point risk index; the odds ratio for complications per one-point increase in the score was 1.55 (95% CI 1.43-1.68; p<0.001). The model identified three stages (I, II and III) with 30-day PE-related complication rates of 4.2%, 10.8% and 29.2%, respectively. In conclusion, a simple grading system may assist clinicians in identifying intermediate-risk PE.