GITNUXREPORT 2026

Pulmonary Embolism Statistics

Pulmonary embolism is a highly prevalent and often fatal cardiovascular condition worldwide.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Dyspnea is present in 73-80% of PE patients at presentation

Statistic 2

Chest pain occurs in 49-66% of acute PE cases

Statistic 3

Hemoptysis reported in 13-30% of PE patients

Statistic 4

Syncope present in 19% of massive PE

Statistic 5

Wells score >4 has 16% PE probability (moderate risk)

Statistic 6

D-dimer sensitivity for PE: 97% at <500 ng/mL cutoff

Statistic 7

CTPA sensitivity 83-100%, specificity 89-97% for PE

Statistic 8

ECG shows sinus tachycardia in 44% of PE cases

Statistic 9

S1Q3T3 pattern on ECG in only 12-20% of PE

Statistic 10

ABG shows hypoxemia (PaO2 <80 mmHg) in 75% of PE

Statistic 11

PERC rule negative rules out PE with 2% miss rate in low-risk

Statistic 12

Echocardiography shows RV dysfunction in 30-50% of acute PE

Statistic 13

V/Q scan high probability in 41% of PE, indeterminate 34%

Statistic 14

Lower extremity US positive for DVT in 29% of PE patients

Statistic 15

Geneva score simplified: PE probability 28% at score 11

Statistic 16

Troponin elevation in 35-50% of PE with RV strain

Statistic 17

BNP >90 pg/mL sensitivity 77% for massive PE

Statistic 18

PESI class I-II low risk mortality 1-3.6%

Statistic 19

Heart rate >110 bpm in 30% of hemodynamically stable PE

Statistic 20

Leg swelling in 28-50% of PE with concomitant DVT

Statistic 21

CTA detects subsegmental PE in 15-30% of cases

Statistic 22

Lactate >2 mmol/L predicts 90-day mortality 12.8%

Statistic 23

RV/LV ratio >0.9 on CT predicts adverse outcomes in 30%

Statistic 24

Chronic PE symptoms mimic COPD in 20% of CTEPH cases

Statistic 25

Hemodynamic instability in 5% of PE at presentation

Statistic 26

False negative D-dimer in elderly: 14% miss rate >age/10 cutoff

Statistic 27

Multidetector CT sensitivity 92% for segmental PE

Statistic 28

Kussmaul's sign rare in PE (1-2%)

Statistic 29

Pleural rub audible in 10-23% of PE

Statistic 30

Simplified PESI score 1 point: 30-day mortality 1.0%

Statistic 31

MRI pulmonary angiography sensitivity 84% for PE

Statistic 32

The annual incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the general population is approximately 115-269 cases per 100,000 person-years

Statistic 33

In the United States, PE affects over 900,000 individuals annually with around 300,000 deaths

Statistic 34

The incidence of PE increases exponentially with age, reaching 900-1,200 per 100,000 in those over 80 years old

Statistic 35

PE accounts for approximately 15% of all venous thromboembolism (VTE) deaths worldwide

Statistic 36

In hospitalized patients, the incidence of PE is 0.3-0.5% without prophylaxis

Statistic 37

Autopsy studies show PE as the cause of death in 9.4% of hospitalized patients

Statistic 38

The prevalence of PE in pregnancy is 5-12 cases per 10,000 deliveries

Statistic 39

In cancer patients, PE incidence is 4-20% depending on cancer type

Statistic 40

Recurrent PE occurs in 20-30% of untreated patients within 10 years

Statistic 41

PE incidence in men is 1.5 times higher than in women under 80 years

Statistic 42

In the EU, PE causes over 370,000 deaths yearly

Statistic 43

Asymptomatic PE detected on CTPA in 32% of proximal DVT patients

Statistic 44

Global PE burden: 3.9 million cases and 0.37 million deaths in 2019

Statistic 45

PE incidence post-hip fracture surgery: 10-20% without prophylaxis

Statistic 46

In ICU patients, PE incidence is 2-13%

Statistic 47

PE is the third most common cardiovascular death in the US after MI and stroke

Statistic 48

Incidence of fatal PE: 100 per 100,000 in surgical patients

Statistic 49

PE in children: 4.2-58 cases per 10 million

Statistic 50

In COVID-19 hospitalized patients, PE incidence up to 30%

Statistic 51

Black Americans have 30-100% higher PE incidence than whites

Statistic 52

PE recurrence rate: 20% at 5 years with anticoagulation cessation

Statistic 53

In Europe, age-adjusted PE incidence: 88 per 100,000

Statistic 54

Obesity increases PE risk by 2-3 fold, contributing to 25% of cases

Statistic 55

Post-thrombotic syndrome follows 20-50% of DVT leading to PE

Statistic 56

PE in air travelers: 1-2 cases per 10,000 flights >4 hours

Statistic 57

In trauma patients, PE incidence 2-22%

Statistic 58

Fatal PE undetected in 70% of cases at autopsy

Statistic 59

PE hospital admissions in US: 250,000-300,000 per year

Statistic 60

Incidence in medical inpatients: 1.0-1.5% without prophylaxis

Statistic 61

Global DALYs lost to PE: 1.2 million in 2010

Statistic 62

30-day all-cause mortality for PE is 8.8-15%

Statistic 63

Untreated PE mortality approaches 30% within 2 weeks

Statistic 64

Massive PE 90-day mortality 25-65%

Statistic 65

Low-risk PE (PESI I-II) 30-day mortality <1%

Statistic 66

CTEPH develops in 3-4% of acute PE survivors

Statistic 67

Recurrent VTE after 3 months anticoagulation: 5-10%

Statistic 68

RV dysfunction on echo triples 40-day mortality (17% vs 6%)

Statistic 69

Troponin positive PE: mortality OR 7.6

Statistic 70

Cancer-associated PE 1-year mortality 40%

Statistic 71

Subsegmental PE mortality similar to more proximal (1-5%)

Statistic 72

5-year survival post-PE: 65% with comorbidities

Statistic 73

Post-PE functional limitation in 50% at 2 years

Statistic 74

Normotensive PE with lactate >4 mmol/L: 28-day mortality 28%

Statistic 75

sPESI score ≥1: 30-day mortality 10.9% vs 0.5%

Statistic 76

Age-adjusted DVT/PE mortality declining 3.8% yearly US 1999-2006

Statistic 77

ICU-admitted PE mortality 15-25%

Statistic 78

Shock/hypotension at presentation: mortality 32.5%

Statistic 79

Chronic thromboembolic disease in 10% post-PE at 2 years

Statistic 80

Major bleeding on anticoagulation: 2-3% per year

Statistic 81

Post-thrombectomy CTEPH mortality 5-10% at 1 year

Statistic 82

Elderly (>75) PE mortality 21% at 1 month

Statistic 83

Outpatient PE management: 1.7% 30-day adverse events

Statistic 84

RV/LV >1.0 on CT: 90-day mortality HR 3.19

Statistic 85

DOAC-treated PE recurrence 3% at 12 months vs 4.4% VKA

Statistic 86

Fatal PE post-op: 0.1-0.8% with prophylaxis

Statistic 87

Long-term mortality post-PE: 20% at 3 years

Statistic 88

Persistent dyspnea post-PE: 34% at 3 months

Statistic 89

Thrombolysis in submassive PE: no mortality benefit, stroke risk 2.4%

Statistic 90

Major surgery increases PE risk 20-fold

Statistic 91

Immobility for >3 days raises PE odds ratio to 3.4 (95% CI 2.5-4.7)

Statistic 92

Oral contraceptive use increases VTE risk 3-6 fold

Statistic 93

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) elevates PE risk 2.0-2.5 times

Statistic 94

Obesity (BMI >30) confers 2.4-fold increased PE risk

Statistic 95

Smoking doubles PE risk in women (OR 2.23)

Statistic 96

Cancer patients have 4-7 fold higher VTE risk

Statistic 97

Recent surgery within 3 months: OR 13.9 for PE

Statistic 98

Pregnancy increases VTE risk 5-fold, peaking postpartum (OR 20)

Statistic 99

Factor V Leiden mutation: 3-8 fold VTE risk increase

Statistic 100

Prothrombin G20210A mutation: 2-3 fold PE risk

Statistic 101

Antiphospholipid syndrome: 5-10 fold VTE risk

Statistic 102

Prior VTE history: 2-4 fold recurrence risk

Statistic 103

Heart failure: OR 2.7 for PE (95% CI 2.2-3.3)

Statistic 104

COPD increases PE risk OR 2.5

Statistic 105

Varicose veins: OR 1.9 for VTE

Statistic 106

Long-haul flight >4h: 2-3 fold transient VTE risk

Statistic 107

Nephrotic syndrome: 10-fold VTE risk due to antithrombin loss

Statistic 108

Inflammatory bowel disease: OR 2.0-3.0 for VTE

Statistic 109

HIV infection: 2-10 fold VTE risk

Statistic 110

Sickle cell disease: 200-fold increased PE risk

Statistic 111

Hyperhomocysteinemia: OR 2.5 for VTE

Statistic 112

Age >60 years: OR 2.4 per decade for PE

Statistic 113

Male sex: OR 1.4-2.2 for PE

Statistic 114

Estrogen-containing contraceptives: OR 4.2 (third generation)

Statistic 115

Behcet's disease: 14-fold VTE risk

Statistic 116

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: 30-40 fold VTE risk

Statistic 117

Recent immobilization: OR 7.1

Statistic 118

Central venous catheter: OR 5.0 for upper extremity DVT/PE

Statistic 119

Thrombophilia prevalence in PE: 25-30%

Statistic 120

LMWH anticoagulation reduces recurrence by 70% vs placebo

Statistic 121

DOACs (apixaban) non-inferior to warfarin, recurrence 1.9% vs 2.3%

Statistic 122

Thrombolysis in massive PE reduces mortality 9% vs 19% heparin

Statistic 123

IVC filter prevents PE recurrence in 5-10% of filter patients

Statistic 124

Catheter-directed thrombolysis: RV/LV ratio improves 25%

Statistic 125

Aspirin prophylaxis reduces VTE 60% post-ortho surgery

Statistic 126

Warfarin target INR 2.0-3.0 prevents 85-90% recurrence

Statistic 127

Rivaroxaban single-drug approach: recurrence 2.1% at 12 months

Statistic 128

UFH bolus 80 U/kg then 18 U/kg/h for PE treatment

Statistic 129

Embolectomy mortality 24-48% in high-risk PE

Statistic 130

Edoxaban after heparin: recurrence HR 0.83 vs warfarin

Statistic 131

LMWH superior to warfarin in cancer-associated PE (RR 0.56)

Statistic 132

Mechanical thrombectomy success 80-90% in submassive PE

Statistic 133

Betrixaban extended prophylaxis: VTE reduction 65% medical patients

Statistic 134

Dabigatran after 6 months heparin: non-inferior (HR 1.09)

Statistic 135

ECMO support in refractory PE: survival 65%

Statistic 136

Fondaparinux vs enoxaparin: similar efficacy 1.3% vs 1.7% recurrence

Statistic 137

Surgical embolectomy: 30-day mortality 6-24%

Statistic 138

DOAC bleeding risk lower: major bleed 1.2% vs 1.8% warfarin

Statistic 139

Tenecteplase bolus thrombolysis: hemodynamic improvement 85%

Statistic 140

Extended DOAC (apixaban 2.5mg BID): recurrence 1.7% vs 8.8% placebo

Statistic 141

Unfractionated heparin aPTT 1.5-2.5x control therapeutic

Statistic 142

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for CTEPH: 6-min walk +50m

Statistic 143

Prophylactic IVC filter: no mortality benefit in trials

Statistic 144

Argatroban for HIT-associated PE: efficacy 70-80%

Statistic 145

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for CTEPH: mortality 4.4%

Statistic 146

Direct oral anticoagulants preferred: 92% ESC guideline recommendation

Statistic 147

Alteplase 100mg over 2h for PE thrombolysis

Statistic 148

Heparin weight-based nomogram achieves therapeutic 60% first dose

1/148

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Imagine a medical condition striking someone in the United States nearly every minute, claiming over 900,000 victims and about 300,000 lives each year; this silent threat is a pulmonary embolism, a cardiovascular crisis woven through startling statistics on incidence, risk, and mortality that demand our urgent attention.

Key Takeaways

The annual incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the general population is approximately 115-269 cases per 100,000 person-years
In the United States, PE affects over 900,000 individuals annually with around 300,000 deaths
The incidence of PE increases exponentially with age, reaching 900-1,200 per 100,000 in those over 80 years old
Major surgery increases PE risk 20-fold
Immobility for >3 days raises PE odds ratio to 3.4 (95% CI 2.5-4.7)
Oral contraceptive use increases VTE risk 3-6 fold
Dyspnea is present in 73-80% of PE patients at presentation
Chest pain occurs in 49-66% of acute PE cases
Hemoptysis reported in 13-30% of PE patients
LMWH anticoagulation reduces recurrence by 70% vs placebo
DOACs (apixaban) non-inferior to warfarin, recurrence 1.9% vs 2.3%
Thrombolysis in massive PE reduces mortality 9% vs 19% heparin
30-day all-cause mortality for PE is 8.8-15%
Untreated PE mortality approaches 30% within 2 weeks
Massive PE 90-day mortality 25-65%

Pulmonary embolism is a highly prevalent and often fatal cardiovascular condition worldwide.

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

Dyspnea is present in 73-80% of PE patients at presentation
Chest pain occurs in 49-66% of acute PE cases
Hemoptysis reported in 13-30% of PE patients
Syncope present in 19% of massive PE
Wells score >4 has 16% PE probability (moderate risk)
D-dimer sensitivity for PE: 97% at <500 ng/mL cutoff
CTPA sensitivity 83-100%, specificity 89-97% for PE
ECG shows sinus tachycardia in 44% of PE cases
S1Q3T3 pattern on ECG in only 12-20% of PE
ABG shows hypoxemia (PaO2 <80 mmHg) in 75% of PE
PERC rule negative rules out PE with 2% miss rate in low-risk
Echocardiography shows RV dysfunction in 30-50% of acute PE
V/Q scan high probability in 41% of PE, indeterminate 34%
Lower extremity US positive for DVT in 29% of PE patients
Geneva score simplified: PE probability 28% at score 11
Troponin elevation in 35-50% of PE with RV strain
BNP >90 pg/mL sensitivity 77% for massive PE
PESI class I-II low risk mortality 1-3.6%
Heart rate >110 bpm in 30% of hemodynamically stable PE
Leg swelling in 28-50% of PE with concomitant DVT
CTA detects subsegmental PE in 15-30% of cases
Lactate >2 mmol/L predicts 90-day mortality 12.8%
RV/LV ratio >0.9 on CT predicts adverse outcomes in 30%
Chronic PE symptoms mimic COPD in 20% of CTEPH cases
Hemodynamic instability in 5% of PE at presentation
False negative D-dimer in elderly: 14% miss rate >age/10 cutoff
Multidetector CT sensitivity 92% for segmental PE
Kussmaul's sign rare in PE (1-2%)
Pleural rub audible in 10-23% of PE
Simplified PESI score 1 point: 30-day mortality 1.0%
MRI pulmonary angiography sensitivity 84% for PE

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis Interpretation

While navigating the often ambiguous and overlapping symptoms of pulmonary embolism, clinicians must become masters of probability, balancing the high sensitivity of modern diagnostics against the sobering reality that no single finding is ever reliably guilty or innocent.

Epidemiology

The annual incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the general population is approximately 115-269 cases per 100,000 person-years
In the United States, PE affects over 900,000 individuals annually with around 300,000 deaths
The incidence of PE increases exponentially with age, reaching 900-1,200 per 100,000 in those over 80 years old
PE accounts for approximately 15% of all venous thromboembolism (VTE) deaths worldwide
In hospitalized patients, the incidence of PE is 0.3-0.5% without prophylaxis
Autopsy studies show PE as the cause of death in 9.4% of hospitalized patients
The prevalence of PE in pregnancy is 5-12 cases per 10,000 deliveries
In cancer patients, PE incidence is 4-20% depending on cancer type
Recurrent PE occurs in 20-30% of untreated patients within 10 years
PE incidence in men is 1.5 times higher than in women under 80 years
In the EU, PE causes over 370,000 deaths yearly
Asymptomatic PE detected on CTPA in 32% of proximal DVT patients
Global PE burden: 3.9 million cases and 0.37 million deaths in 2019
PE incidence post-hip fracture surgery: 10-20% without prophylaxis
In ICU patients, PE incidence is 2-13%
PE is the third most common cardiovascular death in the US after MI and stroke
Incidence of fatal PE: 100 per 100,000 in surgical patients
PE in children: 4.2-58 cases per 10 million
In COVID-19 hospitalized patients, PE incidence up to 30%
Black Americans have 30-100% higher PE incidence than whites
PE recurrence rate: 20% at 5 years with anticoagulation cessation
In Europe, age-adjusted PE incidence: 88 per 100,000
Obesity increases PE risk by 2-3 fold, contributing to 25% of cases
Post-thrombotic syndrome follows 20-50% of DVT leading to PE
PE in air travelers: 1-2 cases per 10,000 flights >4 hours
In trauma patients, PE incidence 2-22%
Fatal PE undetected in 70% of cases at autopsy
PE hospital admissions in US: 250,000-300,000 per year
Incidence in medical inpatients: 1.0-1.5% without prophylaxis
Global DALYs lost to PE: 1.2 million in 2010

Epidemiology Interpretation

Given these statistics, pulmonary embolism is not just a silent, sudden killer hiding in plain sight; it's a prolific, shape-shifting menace that exploits age, immobility, and modern life to claim a staggering death toll, yet remains maddeningly elusive until it's often too late.

Prognosis and Outcomes

30-day all-cause mortality for PE is 8.8-15%
Untreated PE mortality approaches 30% within 2 weeks
Massive PE 90-day mortality 25-65%
Low-risk PE (PESI I-II) 30-day mortality <1%
CTEPH develops in 3-4% of acute PE survivors
Recurrent VTE after 3 months anticoagulation: 5-10%
RV dysfunction on echo triples 40-day mortality (17% vs 6%)
Troponin positive PE: mortality OR 7.6
Cancer-associated PE 1-year mortality 40%
Subsegmental PE mortality similar to more proximal (1-5%)
5-year survival post-PE: 65% with comorbidities
Post-PE functional limitation in 50% at 2 years
Normotensive PE with lactate >4 mmol/L: 28-day mortality 28%
sPESI score ≥1: 30-day mortality 10.9% vs 0.5%
Age-adjusted DVT/PE mortality declining 3.8% yearly US 1999-2006
ICU-admitted PE mortality 15-25%
Shock/hypotension at presentation: mortality 32.5%
Chronic thromboembolic disease in 10% post-PE at 2 years
Major bleeding on anticoagulation: 2-3% per year
Post-thrombectomy CTEPH mortality 5-10% at 1 year
Elderly (>75) PE mortality 21% at 1 month
Outpatient PE management: 1.7% 30-day adverse events
RV/LV >1.0 on CT: 90-day mortality HR 3.19
DOAC-treated PE recurrence 3% at 12 months vs 4.4% VKA
Fatal PE post-op: 0.1-0.8% with prophylaxis
Long-term mortality post-PE: 20% at 3 years
Persistent dyspnea post-PE: 34% at 3 months
Thrombolysis in submassive PE: no mortality benefit, stroke risk 2.4%

Prognosis and Outcomes Interpretation

The shocking numbers reveal that while a pulmonary embolism is often survivable, it frequently leaves a lasting and severe mark, turning a treatable crisis into a chronic, life-altering, or even lethal sentence with depressing efficiency.

Risk Factors

Major surgery increases PE risk 20-fold
Immobility for >3 days raises PE odds ratio to 3.4 (95% CI 2.5-4.7)
Oral contraceptive use increases VTE risk 3-6 fold
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) elevates PE risk 2.0-2.5 times
Obesity (BMI >30) confers 2.4-fold increased PE risk
Smoking doubles PE risk in women (OR 2.23)
Cancer patients have 4-7 fold higher VTE risk
Recent surgery within 3 months: OR 13.9 for PE
Pregnancy increases VTE risk 5-fold, peaking postpartum (OR 20)
Factor V Leiden mutation: 3-8 fold VTE risk increase
Prothrombin G20210A mutation: 2-3 fold PE risk
Antiphospholipid syndrome: 5-10 fold VTE risk
Prior VTE history: 2-4 fold recurrence risk
Heart failure: OR 2.7 for PE (95% CI 2.2-3.3)
COPD increases PE risk OR 2.5
Varicose veins: OR 1.9 for VTE
Long-haul flight >4h: 2-3 fold transient VTE risk
Nephrotic syndrome: 10-fold VTE risk due to antithrombin loss
Inflammatory bowel disease: OR 2.0-3.0 for VTE
HIV infection: 2-10 fold VTE risk
Sickle cell disease: 200-fold increased PE risk
Hyperhomocysteinemia: OR 2.5 for VTE
Age >60 years: OR 2.4 per decade for PE
Male sex: OR 1.4-2.2 for PE
Estrogen-containing contraceptives: OR 4.2 (third generation)
Behcet's disease: 14-fold VTE risk
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: 30-40 fold VTE risk
Recent immobilization: OR 7.1
Central venous catheter: OR 5.0 for upper extremity DVT/PE
Thrombophilia prevalence in PE: 25-30%

Risk Factors Interpretation

The statistics paint a clear and menacing portrait: from the tectonic plates of recent surgery and genetics to the daily pebbles of immobility and long flights, our modern lives are a treacherous landscape where the body’s clotting system can be summoned to mutiny by a staggering array of seemingly ordinary triggers.

Treatment

LMWH anticoagulation reduces recurrence by 70% vs placebo
DOACs (apixaban) non-inferior to warfarin, recurrence 1.9% vs 2.3%
Thrombolysis in massive PE reduces mortality 9% vs 19% heparin
IVC filter prevents PE recurrence in 5-10% of filter patients
Catheter-directed thrombolysis: RV/LV ratio improves 25%
Aspirin prophylaxis reduces VTE 60% post-ortho surgery
Warfarin target INR 2.0-3.0 prevents 85-90% recurrence
Rivaroxaban single-drug approach: recurrence 2.1% at 12 months
UFH bolus 80 U/kg then 18 U/kg/h for PE treatment
Embolectomy mortality 24-48% in high-risk PE
Edoxaban after heparin: recurrence HR 0.83 vs warfarin
LMWH superior to warfarin in cancer-associated PE (RR 0.56)
Mechanical thrombectomy success 80-90% in submassive PE
Betrixaban extended prophylaxis: VTE reduction 65% medical patients
Dabigatran after 6 months heparin: non-inferior (HR 1.09)
ECMO support in refractory PE: survival 65%
Fondaparinux vs enoxaparin: similar efficacy 1.3% vs 1.7% recurrence
Surgical embolectomy: 30-day mortality 6-24%
DOAC bleeding risk lower: major bleed 1.2% vs 1.8% warfarin
Tenecteplase bolus thrombolysis: hemodynamic improvement 85%
Extended DOAC (apixaban 2.5mg BID): recurrence 1.7% vs 8.8% placebo
Unfractionated heparin aPTT 1.5-2.5x control therapeutic
Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for CTEPH: 6-min walk +50m
Prophylactic IVC filter: no mortality benefit in trials
Argatroban for HIT-associated PE: efficacy 70-80%
Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for CTEPH: mortality 4.4%
Direct oral anticoagulants preferred: 92% ESC guideline recommendation
Alteplase 100mg over 2h for PE thrombolysis
Heparin weight-based nomogram achieves therapeutic 60% first dose

Treatment Interpretation

While we now possess a sophisticated arsenal to prevent, treat, and manage pulmonary embolism—ranging from smart pills that outwit warfarin to heroic catheter rescues for failing hearts—the sobering truth remains that choosing the right weapon from this crowded armory is the most critical factor in tipping the patient's odds from dire statistics toward a hopeful outcome.