Clinical symptoms and related risk factors in pulmonary embolism patients and cluster analysis based on these symptoms

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) remains largely underdiagnosed due to nonspecific symptoms. This study aims to evaluate typical symptoms of PE patients, their related predictors, and to differentiate typical clusters of patients and principal components of PE symptoms. Clinical data from a total of 551 PE patients between January 2012 and April 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. PE was diagnosed according to the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines. Logistic regression models, system clustering method, and principal component analysis were used to identify potential risk factors, different clusters of the patients, and principal components of PE symptoms. The most common symptoms of PE were dyspnea, cough, and tachypnea in more than 60% of patients. Some combined chronic conditions, laboratory and clinical indicators were found to be related to these clinical symptoms. Our study also suggested that PE is associated with a broad list of symptoms and some PE patients might share similar symptoms, and some PE symptoms were usually cooccurrence. Based on ten symptoms generated from our sample, we classified the patients into five clusters which represent five groups of PE patients during clinical practice, and identified four principal components of PE symptoms. These findings will improve our understanding of clinical symptoms and their potential combinations which are helpful for clinical diagnosis of PE.

Prediction of Mortality Associated with Cardiac and Radiological Findings in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism

“…4 The prognosis of PE depends on detecting risk factors and rapid diagnosis. 5 It is important to recognize the findings in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) to predict and reduce deaths from PE. There are studies evaluating mortality in the early period of PE in the literature.…”

Is the Distribution of Geriatric Infections Different in Eastern Turkey Retrospective Evaluation of Geriatric Infections

“…Miniati M et al (7) carried out a prospective study with 800 patients diagnosed with PTE and found dyspnea as the most common symptom (81%) and chest pain as the second most common symptom. Similarly, Ji QY et al (8) found dyspnea as the most frequent symptom (64%) and chest pain as the second most frequent symptom (45%). In this study, the patients were divided into two groups as elder group and younger group.…”

Pulmonary embolism with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“… 8 , 9 The COPD patients with PE were less likely to develop cough, dyspnea, and syncope, whereas COPD patients who are prone to developing PE complications are often associated with lower extremities thrombosis. 24 The clinical manifestations of DVT include changes in lower extremity swelling, pain, edema, and increased skin surface temperature. Approximately 30%–50% of DVT patients may develop PE without receiving treatment.…”

“…Multiple studies have shown that patients with AECOPD combined with PE generally have more chest pain and fewer symptoms of respiratory tract infection than those without PE 8 , 9 . The COPD patients with PE were less likely to develop cough, dyspnea, and syncope, whereas COPD patients who are prone to developing PE complications are often associated with lower extremities thrombosis 24 . The clinical manifestations of DVT include changes in lower extremity swelling, pain, edema, and increased skin surface temperature.…”