Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, Volume 8, Issue 7, 16 3 2024, Pages 102573 The impact of pulmonary embolism on health outcomes of COVID-19 at 3 months after hospitalization. Visser C, Berentschot JC, de Jong CMM, Antoni ML, Bek LM, van den Berg-Emons RJG, van den Borst B, Ten Cate H, Ten Cate-Hoek AJ, Braeken DCW, Geelhoed JJM, Heijenbrok-Kal MH, van Kuijk SMJ, Kroft LJM, Leentjens J, Roukens AHE, Cannegieter SC, Klok FA, Kruip MJHA, Hellemons ME, Dutch COVID & Thrombosis Coalition@CovidDutch
Background
COVID-19 patients frequently experience pulmonary embolism (PE), but its long-term consequences remain uncertain.
Objectives
To assess the impact of PE in COVID-19 patients on health outcomes at 3 months after hospitalization.
Methods
In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we aggregated data from existing databases to evaluate the impact of PE on health outcomes at 3 months after hospitalization. We assessed 1) questionnaires on health-related quality of life (5-level EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire [EQ-5D-5L] questionnaire), anxiety, depression, cognitive failure, and posttraumatic stress disorder; 2) pulmonary function tests (diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide [DLCO] and spirometry); and 3) radiological abnormalities. We developed 3 models to assess the association between PE and the EQ-5D-5L index and the percentage of predicted DLCO (DLCO%): a crude model (model 1), adjusted for age, sex, and presence of comorbidities (model 2), and model 2 additionally adjusted for intensive care unit admission (model 3).
Results
We included 465 patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19, of whom 102 (21.9%) had developed a PE during admission. Patients with PE had poorer EQ-5D-5L index values, more impairment in pulmonary functions, and more frequent radiological abnormalities than patients without PE. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, cognitive failure, and posttraumatic stress disorder did not differ between the 2 groups. In model 2, PE was associated with lower EQ-5D-5L index and lower DLCO%. After additionally adjusting for intensive care unit admission, the association between PE and lower EQ-5D-5L index (mean difference = -0.069, [95% CI, -0.12 to -0.017]) remained but not between PE and DLCO%.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that PE in COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced health-related quality of life at 3 months after hospitalization. While PE may be a marker of COVID-19 severity, its presence during hospitalization could indicate potential long-term health issues, which may be considered during follow-up care.
