European journal of internal medicine
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2025
Meta AnalysisPredictors of pulmonary embolism in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases patients admitted for worsening respiratory symptoms: An individual participant data meta-analyses.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have similar clinical symptoms, making PE diagnosis challenging. Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of PE among COPD patients admitted with worsening respiratory symptoms was not negligible, but that systematic search for PE did not provide a clinical benefit. Predictive factors for PE remain unknown. ⋯ Among patients with COPD admitted for worsening respiratory symptoms, respiratory rate and BNP levels are predictor of PE, but with limited discriminatory power.