Over the past 15 years, advances have occurred in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism (PE).1 Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is now the routine diagnostic test.

The availability of risk stratification tools and non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants that do not require routine laboratory monitoring have facilitated early discharge of patients.2

The risk of developing PEs and experiencing adverse outcomes increases with age, partly because of the comorbidity burden and low cardiopulmonary reserve.3 Little is known about recent PE hospitalizations or about outcomes in older adults in the context of the improvements in diagnostics and therapeutics.

From 1999 through 2015, there were 810 969 patients with a principal discharge diagnosis of PE. Mean age did not change significantly (77.6 years).

Read More