Older adults with lung clots and shock had higher death rates
During hospitalization, 47% of patients aged 80 or older died versus 37% aged 18–79, while older patients received less advanced support.
Cross-sectional study
Limit: Unmeasured frailty and patient preferences could confound the higher mortality in older patients
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
An observational study examined 55,420 US adults hospitalized with pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs, and cardiogenic shock, when the heart cannot pump enough blood. Researchers analyzed a national hospital database covering 2016–2022. They compared 7,780 patients aged 80 or older with patients aged 18–79.
During hospitalization, 47% of the older group died, compared with 37% of the younger group. Older age remained associated with higher odds of death after statistical adjustment. Older patients were also less likely to receive breathing-machine support or devices that support blood circulation. Breathing-machine use was 30% versus 43%. The researchers said the findings suggested potential disparities in care.
Why it matters
For older adults facing these life-threatening conditions, the authors emphasized individualized care decisions that weigh clinical risk, frailty and patient preferences.
Caveats
This observational database analysis cannot establish whether differences in support caused the mortality gap. The conference abstract concerned hospitalized adults with both lung clots and cardiogenic shock, not uncomplicated lung clots.
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- Impella support
- Intra-aortic balloon pump
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cardiogenic shock
- Humans
The paper
Valley Health System; Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute
ESC Congress 2026 Abstract, Oct 26, 2026, Open access
Presented at ESC Congress 2026
