Does the frequency and risk profile of pulmonary embolism differ between women and men 50 years old and under?
Young women suspected of having a pulmonary embolism have a lower actual frequency of the condition compared to men of the same age, though oral contraceptives increase post-surgical risk, and pulmonary angiography is often required for definitive diagnosis.
Women 50 years old and under (even young women using oral contraceptives) who were suspected of having pulmonary emboli and were enrolled in the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis study had a smaller frequency of pulmonary embolism than men of that age, The risk factors for pulmonary embolism were the same for women and men, except that women using oral contraceptives had an increased risk of pulmonary embolism following surgery. Although the V/Q scan was a useful tool in the preliminary evaluation for pulmonary embolism in these women, a pulmonary angiogram was often needed for accurate diagnosis.
Deborah A. Quinn (Wed,) studied this question.