Differentiating electrocardiographic indications of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism: A cross-sectional study in Southern Iran from 2015 to 2020

Abstract

Background: Although using electrocardiogram (ECG) for pulmonary embolism (PE) risk stratification has shown mixed results, it is currently used as supplementary evidence in risk stratification. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess and compare ECG findings of massive and submassive PE versus segmental PE. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 250 hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acute PE from 2015 to 2020 in Southern Iran. Demographic variables, clinical data, troponin levels, on-admission ECG findings, echocardiography findings, and ECG findings 24 h after receiving anticoagulants or thrombolytics were extracted. Results: Patients diagnosed with submassive or massive PE exhibited significantly higher rates of right axis deviation (p =.010), abnormal ST segment (p