Derivation and Validation of a COPD-specific Pulmonary Embolism Diagnostic Strategy

Abstract

Introduction

Diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is challenging due to similarities in clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors of PE and to derive and validate a COPD-specific PE diagnostic strategy.

Methods

A post-hoc analysis of the PEP trial, a prospective multicenter study of patients with COPD hospitalized with acutely worsening respiratory symptoms, was conducted. The outcome predicted was PE at admission. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate predictors of PE. Receiver operating characteristic curves were computed to determine the most discriminant D-dimer cut-offs. The COPD-specific PE diagnostic strategy was externally validated in the independent SLICE trial cohort.

Results

A total of 734 patients were included. At admission, the prevalence of PE and/or proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was 6.5% (95%CI 5.0–8.6%). A COPD-specific PE diagnostic strategy consisting of a 3-item score (type of COPD exacerbation, alternative diagnosis less likely than PE, and clinical signs of DVT) combined with D-dimer at specific cut-offs (1,000 μg/L if 0 score item and 500 μg/L if 1 or 2 score items) was derived. The overall diagnostic failure rate was 0.9% (95%CI 0.4–1.9%) and 392 patients (53.4%) would need imaging to rule out PE. The external validation showed comparable results.

Conclusion

A COPD-specific PE diagnostic strategy was derived specifically for patients with COPD and acutely worsening respiratory symptoms. Further prospective validation of this diagnostic algorithm is needed prior to integrating it in clinical practice.

Keywords

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - diagnostic strategy - diagnostic algorithm - pulmonary embolism - venous thromboembolism

Data Availability Statement

The corresponding authors takes responsibility for data access and integrity of the data.

Ethical Approval Statement

The PEP trial was approved by the institutional review boards (IRB Ouest 6–797) (protocol number PEP - RB 13–087) and the protocol of the SLICE trial was approved by the institutional review boards of the “Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal” (Comité de Ética de la Investigacion con medicamentos) (no protocol number).

Publication History

Received: 08 February 2025

Accepted: 29 June 2025

Article published online:
10 July 2025

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