Safety of treating acute pulmonary embolism at home: an individual patient data meta-analysis

Dieuwke Luijten*, Delphine Douillet, Kim Luijken, Cecile Tromeur, Andrea Penaloza, Olivier Hugli, Drahomir Aujesky, Stefano Barco, Joseph R. Bledsoe, Kyle E. Chang, Francis Couturaud, Paul L. den Exter, Carme Font, Menno V. Huisman, David Jimenez, Christopher Kabrhel, Jeffrey A. Kline, Stavros Konstantinides, Thijs van Mens, Remedios OteroW. Frank Peacock, Olivier Sanchez, William B. Stubblefield, Luca Valerio, David R. Vinson, Philip Wells, Maarten van Smeden, Pierre Marie Roy, Frederikus A. Klok

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background and Aims Home treatment is considered safe in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients selected by a validated triage tool (e.g. simplified PE severity index score or Hestia rule), but there is uncertainty regarding the applicability in underrepresented subgroups. The aim was to evaluate the safety of home treatment by performing an individual patient-level data meta-analysis. Methods Ten prospective cohort studies or randomized controlled trials were identified in a systematic search, totalling 2694 PE patients treated at home (discharged within 24 h) and identified by a predefined triage tool. The 14- and 30-day incidences of all-cause mortality and adverse events (combined endpoint of recurrent venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, and/or all-cause mortality) were evaluated. The relative risk (RR) for 14- and 30-day mortalities and adverse events is calculated in subgroups using a random effects model. Results The 14- and 30-day mortalities were 0.11% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.0-0.24, I2 = 0) and 0.30% (95% CI 0.09-0.51, I2 = 0). The 14- and 30-day incidences of adverse events were 0.56% (95% CI 0.28-0.84, I2 = 0) and 1.2% (95% CI 0.79- 1.6, I2 = 0). Cancer was associated with increased 30-day mortality [RR 4.9; 95% prediction interval (PI) 2.7-9.1; I2 = 0]. Pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease, abnormal troponin, and abnormal (N-terminal pro-)B-type natriuretic peptide [(NT-pro)BNP] at presentation were associated with an increased incidence of 14-day adverse events [RR 3.5 (95% PI 1.5-7.9, I2 = 0), 2.5 (95% PI 1.3-4.9, I2 = 0), and 3.9 (95% PI 1.6-9.8, I2 = 0), respectively], but not mortality. At 30 days, cancer, abnormal troponin, and abnormal (NT-pro)BNP were associated with an increased incidence of adverse events [RR 2.7 (95% PI 1.4-5.2, I2 = 0), 2.9 (95% PI 1.5-5.7, I2 = 0), and 3.3 (95% PI 1.6-7.1, I2 = 0), respectively]. Conclusions The incidence of adverse events in home-treated PE patients, selected by a validated triage tool, was very low. Patients with cancer had a three- to five-fold higher incidence of adverse events and death. Patients with increased troponin or (NT-pro) BNP had a three-fold higher risk of adverse events, driven by recurrent venous thromboembolism and bleeding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2933-2950
Number of pages18
JournalEuropean heart journal
Volume45
Issue number32
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Aug 2024

Keywords

  • Clinical decision-making
  • Early discharge
  • Emergency care
  • Outpatient care
  • Pulmonary embolism

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