Length of Hospital Stay and Mortality in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism

Early discharge of patients with PE was associated with higher 30-day postdischarge mortality.

During the past decade, duration of inpatient treatment for patients with nonmassive pulmonary embolism (PE) has decreased substantially, mostly because of widespread use of low-molecular-weight heparin and increasing pressure to shorten hospital length of stay (LOS).

Researchers examined LOS and mortality in more than 15,000 patients with PE who were treated in 186 acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania from 2000 through 2002. Of 1439 patients who died within 30 days, 64% died in the hospital, and 36% died after hospital discharge. Thirty-day postdischarge mortality rates were significantly higher for patients with LOS ≤4 days than for those with LOS 5 to 6 days (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–2.00). Nineteen percent of patie…

Reviewing Author

Neil Winawer, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Neil Winawer, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose