What Is a Pulmonary Embolism?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. Epidemiology
In the United States, the incidence of pulmonary embolism is estimated to be 1 per 1,000 people annually. A study from 2008 has suggested that the use of computed tomography has led to increased reports of the condition.
It has been estimated that pulmonary embolism occurs in 60% to 80% of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) despite more than 50% being asymptomatic. It is the third most common cause of death among hospitalized patients. Autopsies have found that pulmonary embolism was present in about 60% of patients who died in the hospital with the diagnosis missed in 70% of the cases. Internationally, the incidence is most likely due to the accuracy of diagnosis.
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