Have the number of pulmonary embolism cases increased during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Introduction
Coagulation disorders, endothelial dysfunction, immobility and dehydration contribute to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in COVID-19 patients. While the prevalence of PE accompanying COVID-19 is high, the number of studies on its long-term effects is limited in literature. Objectives. We expanded this process and aimed to evaluate a one-year period before and during the pandemic. We sought an answer to the question: “Is there a change in the frequency and clinical course of PE?”

Material and methods
Retrospectively, all patients admitted to our pulmonology clinic diagnosed with PE between October 2018–2019 (pre-pandemic) and April 2020–2021 (pandemic period) were included in the study. PE patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection were not included in the study.

Results
The prevalence of PE cases increased by 43% in the first year of the pandemic, and there was no significant difference in terms of symptoms, localisation and extent of thrombus in the pulmonary artery, DVT frequency, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PABs) values, right heart load, frequency of thrombolytic therapy and mortality rates. A significant decrease was observed in predisposing factors of pulmonary embolism only in the postoperative period (7 patients (77.8%) before the pandemic; 2 patients (22.2%) during the pandemic; p = 0.029).

Conclusions
PE cases are encountered more frequently during the pandemic process, and no significant change was seen in patient’s clinical findings and mortality.