Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the relationship of echocardiographic measurements, whole blood viscosity, and other hematological
markers with short-term (0-30 days after the diagnosis) and long-term (31st day -12th month after the diagnosis) mortality in acute pulmonary
embolism (APE).
Patients and methods: This retrospective study included a total of 80 patients (35 males, 45 females; mean age 68.0±17.1 years;
range, 22 to 92 years) with the definitive diagnosis of APE between January 2015 and December 2017. The patients were divided into three
study groups as follows: short-term mortality group (n=20; 25.0%), long-term mortality group (n=15; 18.8%), and alive group (n=45; 56.2%)
surviving beyond one year during follow-up. The demographic data, Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index, simplified Pulmonary Embolism
Severity Index, complete blood count, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), D-dimer, C-reactive protein, whole blood
viscosity values, and echocardiographic measurements of the patients were recorded.
Results: The increased levels of high shear rate-whole blood viscosity, low shear rate-whole blood viscosity, and the decreased levels of
tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were found to be associated with short-term mortality in APE. The red blood cell distribution
width and NT-proBNP levels and pulmonary artery and right ventricular diameters were found to be associated with early and late mortality.
Conclusion: Whole blood viscosity levels appear to estimate the patients susceptible to early mortality in APE, while late mortality seems
to be predictable in the presence of increased red cell distribution width. Echocardiographic measurements seem to be applicable indicators
of increased early and late mortality in APE.
Key words: Acute pulmonary embolism, long-term mortality, short-term mortality, whole blood viscosity.
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