Pulmonary embolism, seasonal variations in admission to hospital, and the association of calf deep vein thrombosiswith pulmonary embolism

Objective: To look for the presence or absence of seasonal variation of pulmonary embolism (PE). To analyze the effect of age, sex and the presence or absence of deep vein thrombosis(DVT) and its risk factors on the occurrence of PE. To analyze the ECG changes and the presence or absence of sinus tachycardia in patients with acute PE. Method: One hundred three patients with PE were studied retrospectively, during the years 20022007 at the intensive and respiratory care unit and general medical units in Ibn-Sena Teaching Hospital. Results: One hundred three patients with PE were studied. The age of the patients correlates significantly with the presence of PE being highest between 21-50 year of age, with p-value of <0.001. There were no seasonal variations in the distribution of PE with P-value of 0.06. Females significantly outnumbered male patients with P-value of 0.002. There was no statistically significant association between the clinically evident DVT or its absence and the diagnosis of PE with p-value 0.278. The association between the presence of PE and positive doppler ultrasound for DVT were significant with p-value of 0.023. There was a significant association between the presence of PE and sinus tachycardia with p-value of <0.001, and negative correlation with the classical ECG changes. Conclusion: There was no seasonal variation in the distribution of PE. There was significant association between the presence of PE and positive doppler ultrasound for DVT. Sinus tachycardias were commonly present with acute PE. We need to have more sophisticated facilities for proper diagnosis of PE.