Author:
Maas Arno F.G.,Wyers Caroline,Dielis Arne,Barten Dennis G.,van Kampen Vivian E.M.,van der Krieken Thomas E.,de Kruif Martijn,Simsek Suat,Spaetgens Bart,van Haaps Thijs,Appelman Brent,Gritters Niels C.,Doornbos Stefan,Moeniralam Hazra S.,Noordzij Peter G.,Reidinga Auke,Douma Renée A.,Nossent Esther J.,Beudel Martijn,Elbers Paul,Middeldorp Saskia,van Es Nick,van den Bergh Joop P.W.,van Osch Frits H.M.
Abstract
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> During the first COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 in the Netherlands, the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) appeared to be high in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of PE during hospital stay in COVID-19 patients not admitted to the ICU. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data were retrospectively collected from 8 hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients admitted between February 27, 2020, and July 31, 2020, were included. Data extracted comprised clinical characteristics, medication use, first onset of COVID-19-related symptoms, admission date due to COVID-19, and date of PE diagnosis. Only polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive patients were included. All PEs were diagnosed with computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Data from 1,852 patients who were admitted to the hospital ward were collected. Forty patients (2.2%) were diagnosed with PE within 28 days following hospital admission. The median time to PE since admission was 4.5 days (IQR 0.0–9.0). In all 40 patients, PE was diagnosed within the first 2 weeks after hospital admission and for 22 (55%) patients within 2 weeks after onset of symptoms. Patient characteristics, pre-existing comorbidities, anticoagulant use, and laboratory parameters at admission were not related to the development of PE. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In this retrospective multicenter cohort study of 1,852 COVID-19 patients only admitted to the non-ICU wards, the incidence of CTPA-confirmed PE was 2.2% during the first 4 weeks after onset of symptoms and occurred exclusively within 2 weeks after hospital admission.