Baseline characteristics, medical history, and initial presentation of 682 normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism
| All study patients | hsTnT <14 pg·mL−1 | hsTnT ≥14 pg·mL−1 | p-value | |
| Patients n | 682 | 270 | 412 | |
| Male sex | 330 (48.4) | 132 (48.9) | 198 (48.1) | 0.832 |
| Age years | 70 (54–78) | 63 (45–74) | 73 (64–80) | <0.001 |
| BMI kg·m−2 | 27.0 (23.9–30.4) | 26.4 (23.3–30.1) | 27.5 (24.4–30.9) | 0.014 |
| Risk factors for VTE and comorbidities | ||||
| Previous VTE | 159 (23.3) | 75 (27.8) | 84 (20.4) | 0.027 |
| Recent# immobilisation/trauma/surgery | 189 (27.8) (n=681) | 54 (20.0) | 135 (32.8) (n=411) | <0.001 |
| Active cancer§ | 115 (16.9) (n=681) | 38 (14.1) | 77 (18.7) (n=411) | 0.112 |
| Chronic heart failure | 71 (10.4) (n=681) | 15 (5.6) | 56 (13.6) (n=411) | 0.001 |
| Chronic pulmonary disease | 85 (12.5) (n=681) | 19 (7.0) | 66 (16.1) (n=411) | 0.001 |
| Renal insufficiency | 207 (30.4) | 45 (16.7) | 162 (39.3) | <0.001 |
| Clinical presentation | ||||
| Symptom duration <24 h | 212 (45.6) (n=465) | 70 (38.0) (n=184) | 142 (50.5) (n=281) | 0.008 |
| Chest pain | 312 (45.7) | 160 (59.3) | 152 (36.9) | <0.001 |
| Signs of DVT | 224 (32.9) (n=681) | 88 (32.7) (n=269) | 136 (33.0) | 0.936 |
| Dyspnoea | 558 (81.8) | 208 (77.0) | 350 (85.0) | 0.009 |
| Syncope | 119 (17.4) | 25 (9.3) | 94 (22.8) | <0.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure mmHg | 130 (115–146) (n=668) | 130 (120–150) (n=263) | 130 (115–144) (n=405) | 0.039 |
| Hypotension+ | 50 (7.5) | 10 (3.8) | 40 (9.9) | 0.004 |
| Heart rate beats·min-1 | 90 (80–107) (n=674) | 86 (75–98) (n=265) | 95 (83–110) (n=409) | <0.001 |
| Tachycardia | 247 (36.6) | 62 (23.4) | 185 (45.2) | <0.001 |
| RV dysfunction on echocardiography | 219 (37.2) (n=588) | 40 (17.7) (n=226) | 179 (49.4) (n=362) | <0.001 |
| sPESI ≥1 | 403 (59.1) | 101 (37.4) | 302 (73.3) | <0.001 |
Data are presented as n (%) or median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. Patients were stratified according the high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) cut-off value of 14 pg·mL−1. BMI: body mass index; VTE: venous thromboembolism; DVT: deep vein thrombosis; RV: right ventricular; sPESI: simplified pulmonary embolism severity index. #: within the previous 4 weeks; §: defined as active malignancy, anti-tumour therapy within the last 6 months, or metastatic state; +: defined as systolic blood pressure between 90 and 100 mmHg on admission.