Ahmad, Khansa

ABSTRACT Background Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular mortality in the United States. Significant variations in the management of various cardiovascular conditions have previously been reported, but this has been poorly elucidated for pulmonary embolism. Methods During 2016–2020, adult (≥ 18 years) nonelective admissions with PE, admitted to Northeast, Midwest, South, and West geographic regions were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Outcomes of interest included in‐hospital mortality, utilization of PE therapies, non‐cardiac organ support, total hospitalization costs, and hospitalization duration. Results In this 5‐year duration, 904,260 admissions were identified ‐ Northeast, Midwest, South, and West had 166,050 (18.3%), 225,680 (24.9%), 350,160 (38.7%), and 162,370 (17.9%) admissions, respectively. On average, admissions to the Northeast were less comorbid, from a higher socioeconomic status, privately insured, and more commonly admitted to urban teaching and medium‐sized hospitals (all p < 0.001). The Northeast region also had the lowest rates of definitive PE therapies except surgical thrombectomy. In comparison to the Northeast, the in‐hospital mortality was higher in the South and West and lower in the Midwest region (3.1% vs 2.8% vs 3.2% vs 3.3%, p < 0.001). However, on adjusted analysis with Northeast as a reference, in‐hospital mortality was noted to be lower in the Midwest (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67−0.84; p < 0.001), South (aOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80−0.98; p < 0.05), and the West (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78−0.99; p < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, we noted significant heterogeneity in the management and outcome of pulmonary embolism across various regions of the United States.

ABSTRACT There are limited and conflicting data on sex and urban‐rural disparities in outcomes of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) in the reproductive age group. Our object was to assess sex disparities in the reproductive age group cohort. All adult non‐elective admissions in the reproductive age group (18−49 years) with a primary diagnosis of PE and with no missing sex/age data were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Females and males were stratified into rural and urban location based on hospital information. Outcomes of interest included in‐hospital mortality, complication rates, variations in management, total hospitalization costs, and length of stay. During 01/01/2016 to 12/31/2020, 180,898 PE admissions aged 18−49 years were identified (rural—12,319 [6.8%]). Females comprised 54.8% and 55.1% of the rural and urban cohorts, respectively. Overall, compared to males, females in urban and rural regions had largely comparable rates of definitive PE interventions, except lower rates of catheter directed therapy (4.7 vs. 3.6%, p < 0.001) in females admitted to urban hospitals. Despite younger age, higher comorbidity, and lower utilization of PE interventions, females in both regions had similar unadjusted in‐hospital mortality (rural 1.1% vs. 1.0%; p = 0.93 and urban 1.8% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.78) and hospitalization costs compared to males. In conclusion, females of reproductive age group had comparable in‐hospital outcomes to males in both urban and rural areas. Females in urban areas had lower utilization of advanced PE interventions, potentially indicating selective management strategies in different settings.