Objective To analyze the coexisting diseases and death of hospitalized patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods A retrospective study was carried out on 330 hospitalized PE patients admitted in our department from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014, and on 9 263 non-PE patients hospitalized in same period. Their clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results There were more female patients in the PE group than in the non-PE group in this study (P＜0.05). The incidences of type I respiratory failure, lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pneumonia, liver dysfunction, cancer and fractures were significantly higher in the PE group than in the non-PE group (P＜0.05). Risk factor analysis indicated that DVT, fractures, pneumonia, cancer, type I respiratory failure, female and liver diseases were risk factors for PE. Conclusion Physicians should fully understand the risk factors and comorbidities of PE, and be alert to its occurrence.