# Pulmonary Embolism in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Romania: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Outcomes

## TL;DR

This study found that 12% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Romania developed pulmonary embolism, a serious blood clot condition, with high mortality and risk factors like prior blood clots and long immobility.

## Contribution

The study provides one of the first large-scale insights into pulmonary embolism in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Eastern Europe.

## Key findings

- Pulmonary embolism occurred in 11.9% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- Patients with PE had significantly higher D-dimer, fibrinogen, and PT/INR levels.
- PE was associated with a 25.5% in-hospital mortality rate and frequent ICU transfers.

## Abstract

(1) Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in hospitalized patients. Data from Eastern Europe, including Romania, are limited, despite potential regional differences in demographics, comorbidities, and thromboprophylaxis practices. (2) Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 395 adults hospitalized with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 at the “Victor Babeș” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophthisiology, Timișoara, Romania, from September 2022 to December 2024. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were extracted from medical records. PE was confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Group comparisons used chi-square and t-tests, with multivariable logistic regression to identify independent PE predictors. (3) Results: PE was diagnosed in 47 patients (11.9%). Compared to those without PE, patients with PE had higher D-dimer (5305.00 ± 1251.00 vs. 537.00 ± 203.00 ng/mL, p < 0.001), fibrinogen (6.33 ± 0.74 vs. 3.51 ± 0.60 g/L, p < 0.001), and PT/INR (1.68 ± 0.21 vs. 1.05 ± 0.09, p < 0.001). Prior venous thromboembolism (VTE; 19.1% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.03) and prolonged immobilization (61.7% vs. 23.0%, p < 0.001) were significant risk factors. Intensive care unit (ICU) transfer occurred in 59.6% of PE cases, with a 25.5% in-hospital mortality rate. All PE patients received anticoagulation; 10.6% underwent thrombolysis. (4) Conclusions: In this Romanian cohort, one of the first large-scale studies in Eastern Europe, PE was prevalent among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, associated with elevated coagulation markers, identifiable risk factors, and high mortality. Early recognition and optimized thromboprophylaxis are critical to improve outcomes.