Differences between men and women in the clinical and laboratory findings of patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) could not be diagnosed correctly in 2/3 of patients saving of that pathology, and unfortunately mortality in them could be as high as 30%. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the gender differences in clinical, electrocardiography (ECG) and laboratory findings of PE patients diagnosed with contrast-enhanced helical computerized tomography of thorax. 31 patients (18 females, 58% and 13 males, 42%) were Included into the study. Symptoms, risk factors, ECG and arterial blood gases were evaluated, and then Wells, Geneva and ECG scores were obtained in each subject. Alveolo-arterial (A-a) oxygen gradient was calculated as P(A-a)O2= 150-(PCO 2/0.8)-PO2. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured by echocardiography. In female and male patients, Weils score (4.8 ± 1.9 and 3.2 ± 2.2, p= 0.017); ECG score (5.9 ± 3.6 and 3.1 ± 1.8, p= 0.036) and mean PAP (33.5 ± 12.3 mmHg and 23.2 ± 10.0 mmHg, p= 0.017) were significantly different. However, between female and male patients Geneva score (4.8 ± 1.7 and 5.0 ± 1.6), A-a gradient (35.2 ± 17.3 and 42.9 ± 12.3) and PaCO2 (33.5 ± 15.1 and 29.8 ± 5.4) did not differ significantly (p> 0.05). Immobilization and surgical interventions as risk factors for PE were established significantly higher In females than males (50%-30.8%, p= 0.02 and 50%-23.1%, p= 0.01). In female patients with PE, Wells and ECG scores, Immobilization, surgical interventions and mean PAP are significantly higher than male patients. So, In the clinical practice, these parameters may help to diagnose acute PE especially in females.