Journals / Maltepe Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 18 Sayı: 2

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Older Adults: A Comparison of Patients Aged 65–75 Years and ≥75 Years

Ayşe Çapar(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SULTAN ABDÜLHAMİD HAN SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ)0000-0002-6485-342X
Harun Çıtlak(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SULTAN ABDÜLHAMİD HAN SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ)0009-0001-4827-3492
Şeyma Başlılar(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SULTAN ABDÜLHAMİD HAN SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ)0000-0003-1495-6508
Gökçe Külah(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL ÜMRANİYE SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, GÖĞÜS HASTALIKLARI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-9805-0537
Pages
32–39
Publication Date
2026-08-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Early diagnosis, close hemodynamic monitoring, and a multidisciplinary approach are critical in reducing mortality in patients with PE aged ≥75 years.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in older age groups.
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Key Findings & Data:This study compared the clinical, demographic, and laboratory findings of patients with PE aged ≥65 years to examine the impact of age on disease progression.
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Conclusion & Impact:Early diagnosis, close hemodynamic monitoring, and a multidisciplinary approach are critical in reducing mortality in patients with PE aged ≥75 years.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İleri yaş · D-dimer · mortalite

Abstract

Aim: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in older age groups. This study compared the clinical, demographic, and laboratory findings of patients with PE aged ≥65 years to examine the impact of age on disease progression. Materials and methods: This retrospective observational study included 188 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of PE. Patient demographics, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, echocardiographic findings, and clinical course were extracted from hospital records. Patients were compared according to age groups: 65-75 years vs. ≥75 years. Results: The mean age of the whole group was 72.6±7.14 years, of whom 52.7% were men and 41 (21.8%) were over 75 years of age. The most common symptom was dyspnea (93.6%), and DVT (13.9%) were more common in patients over 75 years of age. D-dimer, pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and troponin levels were significantly higher in the elderly group. The rate of right heart dilatation on echocardiography was more frequent in the ≥75 age group (36.1% vs.3.4%, p<0.001). The need for intensive care, length of hospital stay, and length of intensive care stay were significantly higher in patients over 75 years (p<0.001, p=0.016, p<0.001, respectively). The mortality rate was also higher in the elderly group (12.2% vs. 3.4%,p=0.042). Conclusion: Cardiac stress markers are significantly higher in older patients with PE, and this is associated with increased right heart load, prolonged hospitalization, and mortality. Early diagnosis, close hemodynamic monitoring, and a multidisciplinary approach are critical in reducing mortality in patients with PE aged ≥75 years.

Özet

Amaç: Pulmoner emboli (PE), özellikle yaşlı gruplarda morbidite ve mortalitenin önemli bir nedenidir. Bu çalışmada, yaşın hastalık seyrine etkisini incelemek için 65 yaş ve üzeri PE hastalarının klinik, demografik ve laboratuvar bulguları karşılaştırılmıştır. Gereç ve yöntemler: Bu retrospektif gözlem çalışması, PE tanısı ile hastaneye yatırılan 188 hastayı içermektedir. Hastaların demografik özellikleri, komorbiditeleri, laboratuvar parametreleri, ekokardiyografi bulguları ve klinik seyri hastane kayıtlarından elde edilmiştir. Hastalar yaş gruplarına göre karşılaştırılmıştır: 65-75 yaş ve ≥75 yaş. Bulgular: Tüm grubun ortalama yaşı 72,6±7,14 idi, bunların %52,7'si erkek ve 41'i (%21,8) 75 yaşın üzerindeydi. En sık görülen semptom nefes darlığı (%93,6) idi ve DVT (%13,9) 75 yaşın üzerindeki hastalarda daha sık görüldü. D-dimer, pro-beyin natriüretik peptid (pro-BNP) ve troponin düzeyleri yaşlı grupta anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti. Ekokardiyografide sağ kalp dilatasyonu oranı ≥75 yaş grubunda daha sık görüldü (%36,1'e karşı %3,4, p<0,001). Yoğun bakım ihtiyacı, hastanede kalış süresi ve yoğun bakımda kalış süresi 75 yaşın üzerindeki hastalarda anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (sırasıyla p<0,001, p=0,016, p<0,001). Mortalite oranı da yaşlı grupta daha yüksekti (12,2% vs. 3,4%, p=0,042). Sonuç: Kardiyak stres belirteçleri, PE' li yaşlı hastalarda önemli ölçüde daha yüksektir ve bu durum, sağ kalp yükünün artması, hastanede kalış süresinin uzaması ve mortalite ile ilişkilidir. Erken tanı, yakın hemodinamik izleme ve multidisipliner yaklaşım, 75 yaş ve üzeri PE hastalarında mortaliteyi azaltmada kritik öneme sahiptir.

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Cite This Article

Çapar, A., Çıtlak, H., Başlılar, Ş., Külah, G. (2026). Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Older Adults: A Comparison of Patients Aged 65–75 Years and ≥75 Years. Maltepe Tıp Dergisi, Cilt: 18 Sayı: 2, 32–39. https://doi.org/10.35514/mtd.2026.144

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