Pulmonary embolism in patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disease worsens their prognosis, though its prevalence remains unknown, especially in chronic heart failure.
This narrative review highlights the diagnostic challenges and prognostic impact of pulmonary embolism in patients with chronic cardiopulmonary diseases like COPD and heart failure.
Patients with chronic cardiopulmonary pathologies have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolic events. The worsening of dyspnoea is a frequent occurrence and often leads patients to consult the emergency department. Pulmonary embolism can then be an exacerbation factor, a differential diagnosis or even a secondary diagnosis. The prevalence of pulmonary embolism in these patients is unknown, especially in cases of chronic heart failure. The challenge lies in needing to carry out a systematic or targeted diagnostic strategy for pulmonary embolism. The occurrence of a pulmonary embolism in patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disease clearly worsens their prognosis. In this narrative review, we study pulmonary embolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after which we turn to pulmonary embolism and chronic heart failure.
Douillet et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Chronic cardiopulmonary disease (COPD, chronic heart failure). Pulmonary embolism was evaluated. Pulmonary embolism in patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disease worsens their prognosis, though its prevalence remains unknown, especially in chronic heart failure.