Incidence of pregnancy related pulmonary embolism in Spain 2016-2021: an observational population-based retrospective study

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the overall and annual age-standardized incidence of pregnancy-related pulmonary embolism (PE) in Spain from 2016 to 2021, explore the distribution of PE events during pregnancy and the postpartum period, identify potential risk factors, and estimate mortality rates during hospital admission.

Methods

In a retrospective, observational, population-based study, data from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database were analyzed to identify women with hospital episodes of pregnancy-related-PE. The primary outcome was the overall and annual age-standardized incidence of pregnancy-related-PE, with secondary aims including the distribution of events during pregnancy and postpartum and the calculation of age-standardized mortality rates during admission.

Results

Among 2,178,805 births from 2016 to 2021, 522 women were diagnosed with pregnancy-related PE, yielding an overall age-standardized incidence of 2.83 cases per 10,000 births. A non-significant increasing trend was observed from 2.43 to 4.18 cases per 10,000 births (p = 0.06). Comorbidities were low, with a notable association between PE and SARS-CoV-2 infection during the last two years. The mortality rate among women with pregnancy-related PE was 2.8%, with a higher incidence of PE reported during the postpartum period.

Conclusion

The incidence of pregnancy-related-PE in Spain exhibits a non-significant increasing trend, with a significant risk of mortality. The association with SARS-CoV-2 infection underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and management of pregnant women, particularly during pandemics. This study contributes specific data on the incidence and characteristics of pregnancy-related-PE in Spain, emphasizing the need to consider PE in the differential diagnosis and management strategies for pregnant and postpartum women.