Estimated incidence of acute pulmonary embolism in a community/teaching general hospital

Purpose: This study attempts to determine the incidence of established acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in a community/teaching general hospital. Background: The reported incidence of objectively diagnosed acute PE among hospitalized adults in a large urban hospital or major university hospital ranges from 0.27 to 0.40%. Whether the incidence of PE in other categories of hospitals fits within this narrow range is unknown. Methods: Patients with acute PE diagnosed by ventilation/perfusion lung scan, pulmonary angiography, compression ultrasound in a patient with suspected PE, autopsy, or (by coincidence) lung biopsy were identified among patients hospitalized during a 2-year period from 1998 to 2000. The incidence of PE was also determined according to age, sex, and race. Results: Among adult patients (≥ 20 years old), the incidence of established acute PE was 95 of 34, 567 patients (0.27%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22 to 0.34%). No PE was diagnosed in patients < 20 years old. The incidence of PE in men was 36 of 13, 722 patients (0.26%; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.36%); in women, it was 59 of 20, 845 patients (0.2%; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.36%; not significant [NS]). The incidence in African-Americans adults was 10 of 4, 344 patients (0.23%; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.42%); in white adults, it was 84 of 28, 615 patients (0.29%; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.36%; NS). Conclusion: The incidence of PE in a community/teaching general hospital was comparable to the incidence in a large urban-care center and in a major university hospital.