Trends in hospital admissions for pulmonary embolism in England: 1996/7 to 2005/6

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can be difficult to diagnose and manage. This paper examines recent national trends in admission rates and mortality for PE to help inform clinical practice. Admissions to NHS hospitals in England between 1 April 1996 and 31 March 2006 were studied. Trends in admission rates, the proportion of all admissions with PE as primary or secondary diagnosis and hospital mortality following PE identified. There were 251,449 admissions with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolus in the study period. Non-elective admission rates rose from 28.0 per 100,000 in 1996/7 to 32.1 per 100,000 in 2005/6. There was a significant increase in secondary diagnosis rates and a clear seasonal pattern with excess admissions in winter. There was significant in-hospital mortality for both primary (13%) and secondary diagnosis (31%). Mortality decreased over time and was highest among the elderly. Pulmonary embolism is associated with a significant mortality although overall trends in mortality are improving in England. Age and comorbidities must be considered when developing guidelines and individual treatment plans.