Association between Mid-Term Functionality and Clinical Severity in Patients Hospitalized for Pulmonary Embolism

TL;DR

This study shows that patients with more severe pulmonary embolism have worse mid-term outcomes in functionality and quality of life.

Contribution

The study establishes a link between clinical severity and mid-term functional outcomes in pulmonary embolism patients.

Findings

High-severity patients had worse functionality and quality of life at admission and follow-up.

Differences in pain, fatigue, and occupational performance persisted at 1 and 3 months.

Clinical severity is associated with mid-term health outcomes in pulmonary embolism patients.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between clinical severity and functionality, occupational performance, and health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized with pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism patients were grouped by clinical severity using the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index. Those scoring ≥160 were in the high-severity group (HSG); those scoring < 160 in the low–moderate group (LMSG). The main variables were functionality assessed by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), self-perception of occupational performance assessed by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), pain and fatigue assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and health-related quality of life assessed by the EuroQol-5Dimensions (EQ-5D). Patients were evaluated at hospital admission and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up. At admission, there were significant differences between groups in the WHODAS and health-related quality of life in favor of the LMSG. At 1-month and at 3-month follow-up, there were significant differences between the LMSG and HSG in WHODAS, COMP, NRS pain, fatigue and EQ-5D scores in favor of the LMSG. An association exists between clinical severity and mid-term functionality, self-perception of occupational performance, pain, fatigue, and health-related quality of life in PE patients.

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