[Pulmonary embolism in medical inpatients. An approach to trends and costs in Spain].

Background: Tromboprophylaxis for hopitalized patients has became a widespread practice in the lasts years. However, the trends in pulmonary embolism (EP) are insufficiently known. We analyzed the trends of EP during the 1997-1999 period in Spain at the hospitals of the National Health System (NHS) and theirs costs were also estimated.

Methods: Diagnosis-Related Group (DGR) 78 from the data of the national hospital discharge register was evaluated. Annual trends, age, sex and (for 1999) mortality, some comorbidities and costs according official data from the Spanish Ministry of Health were annotated. Mostly medical patients were included. Data were compared with those from the Servicio Gallego de Saúde (SERGAS) which maintain a high rate of hospitalary discharges declaration.

Results: During the 3-year period 14.021 cases of EP were observed. The 47% of the NHS cases were older than 75 and mortality was 6,8%. An annual increment of hospitalized cases was observed at SERGAS and NHS (in the last 5% at the end of the period). In 1999 costs were estimated in 16-20,2 millions euro. That was 0,097-0,12% of global hospitalary budget.

Conclusions: Trends for hospitalizations for EP are increasing in Spain. It remains in doubt if a true increase in incidence or the improving notification and awareness are the responsibles for this increment. However, the data of SERGAS support the first possibility.