Pulmonary Embolism Detection in COVID-19 Patients

Background: A clinically important impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the increased likelihood thromboembolism, mainly pulmonary embolism (PE). To screen for these complications a biochemical marker, D-dimer, usually done. There plethora research validating use D-dimer cutoff levels in non-COVID-19 patients, however less so COVID-19 population. Aim: determine number suspected COVID patients with ≥ 0.5 and PE reported on CTPA. Methods: Non-interventional single-centre retrospective clinical correlational study. Patient cohort was admitted over 5-week period. N=690. Results: 76.5% were PCR positive. 40% had CTPA completed 19% to have PE. 52% value 10.6% 0.5. Conclusion: Nationally, hospitals are adopting existing cut off rule out PEs, this leads large proportion having possibly unnecessary computed tomography angiogram. This study highlights that majority D-dimers above level negative PEs contributes notion standard cutoffs insufficiently accurate be used as standalone test diagnosis context an underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection.