Key result
Diagnostic delay for pulmonary embolism averages ~6 days.
Why the study?
Diagnostic delay in pulmonary embolism is typical, but the proportion of patients experiencing delay, the duration in days, and determinants of delay are not well described.
Meta-Analysis
Effect estimate: mean 6.3 days (95% CI 2.5 to 15.8)
Patients with pulmonary embolism experience a mean diagnostic delay of nearly one week, with coughing, chronic lung disease, and heart failure associated with longer delays.
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Substantial diagnostic delays in pulmonary embolism warrant heightened clinician vigilance; confirms prior observations and extends identification of associated factors for intervention trials.
Maanen et al. (2022) conducted a meta-analysis in Pulmonary embolism (PE). Diagnostic delay was evaluated on Mean delay (in days) or a percentage of patients with diagnostic delay (>7 days after symptom onset) (mean 6.3 days, 95% CI 2.5 to 15.8). The pooled mean diagnostic delay for pulmonary embolism was 6.3 days (95% prediction interval 2.5 to 15.8), with 18% to 38% of patients experiencing a delay of more than seven days.
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