Comparing characteristics and outcomes in admissions with pulmonary embolism and inflammatory bowel disease: a national cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a known complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with significant morbidity and mortality. However, outcomes of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with IBD remain limited.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2021), we identified primary PE admissions and stratified patients by the presence or absence of IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD). Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, complications, and health care utilization.

RESULTS

Among 1,096,499 PE admissions, 9868 (0.9%) had IBD. Compared with patients without IBD, patients with IBD were younger, more often female, and Caucasian (all P < 0.05), with higher smoking and prior VTE rates (both P < 0.001). Bleeding complications were higher (P < 0.001), whereas rates of respiratory failure, renal failure, neurological failure, and invasive ventilation use were lower (all P < 0.05). The UC cohort had higher bleeding and prior VTE rates than the CD cohort (both P < 0.001). Mortality did not differ between IBD and non-IBD or between UC and CD cohorts. Hospital charges were higher in PE admissions with IBD than without IBD (P < 0.001) despite similar lengths of stay.

CONCLUSION

In-hospital mortality in PE admissions was similar with and without IBD. The UC cohort had more bleeding complications than the CD cohort without mortality differences. The IBD cohort had higher hospitalization costs than those without IBD despite a similar length of stay.