Incidence of pulmonary embolism.

During the last 5 years in a community hospital of 219 beds, the most common cause of death (primary and secondary or contributory) was pulmonary embolus. In the US fatal pulmonary emboli occur in 5 patients for 1,000 inpatients, nonfatal pulmonary embolism in 20 patients per 1,000 inpatients, about 142,000 patients suffer fatal pulmonary emboli and 568,000 suffer nonfatal pulmonary emboli each year. In 422 autopsies 93 patients (21%) have pulmonary emboli undiagnosed during the patient's life time. In comparing with other statistical studies, about 21% represent the death rate of patients treated for pulmonary emboli if the diagnosis is previously made. On the basis of this observation the incidence of pulmonary emboli and thrombosis of the lower limbs appears to be about the same in community and the university hospitals, disregarding if the patients are having the highly skill care or are treated by the general practitioner without the sophistication of expensive technology.