Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical features, prognosis and factors influencing survival for the elderly patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods A total of 627 patients with identified acute PTE admitted in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from January 2006 to March 2011 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into the ≥65 year-old group (n=309) and the <65 year-old group (n=318). Their clinical data were compared to analyze the influencing factors of prognosis and survival. Results There was no significant difference in recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) between the two groups (P=0.157). But the older group had obviously higher mortality than the younger one (P<0.001). The analysis on cause of death indicated that there were more patients died of other definite causes (including severe infection, respiratory failure, renal failure, multiple organ failure, and so on) in the ≥65 year-old group than those in the younger group (P=0.006). Univariate Cox analysis showed that age, body mass index (BMI), complication of malignant tumor, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) >50mmHg, surgery secondary to PTE within 2 months, and long-term anticoagulant therapy were correlated with the occurrence of death. But further multivariate Cox analysis suggested that only age, malignant tumor, SPAP >50mmHg, surgery within 2 months after PTE, and long-term anticoagulant therapy be high risk factors for death. Conclusion The elderly PTE patients have poor long-term prognosis due to their complications of chronic comorbidities. Physicians should pay attention to this, and emphasize regular treatment for their complications in addition to the standard diagnosis and treatment of PTE.