Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and impairment after pulmonary embolism: the FOCUS study

Eur Heart J. 2022 Sep 21;43(36):3387-3398. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac206.

Abstract

Aims: To systematically assess late outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and to investigate the clinical implications of post-PE impairment (PPEI) fulfilling prospectively defined criteria.

Methods and results: A prospective multicentre observational cohort study was conducted in 17 large-volume centres across Germany. Adult consecutive patients with confirmed acute symptomatic PE were followed with a standardized assessment plan and pre-defined visits at 3, 12, and 24 months. The co-primary outcomes were (i) diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), and (ii) PPEI, a combination of persistent or worsening clinical, functional, biochemical, and imaging parameters during follow-up. A total of 1017 patients (45% women, median age 64 years) were included in the primary analysis. They were followed for a median duration of 732 days after PE diagnosis. The CTEPH was diagnosed in 16 (1.6%) patients, after a median of 129 days; the estimated 2-year cumulative incidence was 2.3% (1.2-4.4%). Overall, 880 patients were evaluable for PPEI; the 2-year cumulative incidence was 16.0% (95% confidence interval 12.8-20.8%). The PPEI helped to identify 15 of the 16 patients diagnosed with CTEPH during follow-up (hazard ratio for CTEPH vs. no CTEPH 393; 95% confidence interval 73-2119). Patients with PPEI had a higher risk of re-hospitalization and death as well as worse quality of life compared with those without PPEI.

Conclusion: In this prospective study, the cumulative 2-year incidence of CTEPH was 2.3%, but PPEI diagnosed by standardized criteria was frequent. Our findings support systematic follow-up of patients after acute PE and may help to optimize guideline recommendations and algorithms for post-PE care.

Keywords: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; Follow-up; Functional impairment; Pulmonary embolism.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary* / complications
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary* / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / complications
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / epidemiology
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors