Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 12, Number 3, March 2020, pages 190-199


Risk of Stroke in Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale Who Had Pulmonary Embolism

Figure

Figure 1.
Figure 1. Frequencies of comorbid conditions in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) with pulmonary embolism (PE) and in patients with PFO without PE.

Tables

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics
 
VariablePFO with PE (n = 34)PFO without PE (n = 120)P
aIndependent t-test. bChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; SD: standard deviation; NS: not significant; VTE: venous thromboembolism.
Age, mean (SD)54.8 (14.5)57.8 (16.0)0.331a
Gender
  Male (n, %)15 (44.1)55 (45.8)0.859b
  Female (n, %)19 (55.9)65 (54.2)0.859b
Race
  Caucasian (n, %)23 (67.7)80 (66.7)0.605b
  African American (n, %)9 (26.5)24 (20.0)0.514b
  Hispanic (n, %)1 (2.9)10 (8.3)NSb
  Other (n, %)1 (2.9)6 (5.0)NSb
Social factors
  Alcohol (n, %)6 (17.6)50 (41.7)< 0.05b
  Cigarettes (n, %)10 (29.4)45 (37.5)0.385b
  Illicit drug use (n, %)0 (0.0)9 (7.5)NSb
Medical history
  VTE (n, %)23 (67.6)7 (5.8)< 0.001b
  Trauma (n, %)7 (20.6)19 (15.8)0.514b
  Surgery (n, %)28 (82.4)97 (80.8)0.841b

 

Table 2. Vitals and Diagnostic Tests
 
VariablePFO with PE (n = 34)PFO without PE (n = 120)P
*P < 0.05. aIndependent t-test. bChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; SD: standard deviation; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; PA: pulmonary artery.
Heart rate (beats per minute) (mean, SD)77.6 (14.732)74.4 (14.036)0.245a
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)125.9 (17.917)125.4 (17.776)0.884a
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)77.3 (12.525)75.0 (10.124)0.261a
Body mass index (kg/m2) (mean, SD)32.5 (8.848)28.4 (6.994)0.005*, a
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)163.8 (40.739)163.8 (44.291)1.000a
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)87.8 (32.480)90.6 (35.464)0.681a
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)55.2 (13.221)53.3 (16.064)0.519a
Triglyceride (mg/dL) (mean, SD)103.3 (67.503)108.8 (61.660)0.651a
Red blood cells (× 106/µL) (mean, SD)4.1 (1.203)4.5 (0.596)0.031*, a
Serum creatinine (mg/dL) (mean, SD)1.2 (1.437)0.9 (0.447)0.272a
Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) (mean, SD)54.9 (13.005)59.6 (6.848)0.049*, a
Mean PA pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)27.3 (10.073)27.4 (8.329)0.983a
Right atrial dysfunction (n, %)1 (2.9)5 (4.2)1.000b
Atrial septal aneurysm (n, %)6 (17.6)20 (16.7)0.893b

 

Table 3. Associated Comorbid Conditions
 
VariablePFO with PE (n = 34)PFO without PE (n = 120)Pa
*P < 0.05. aChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; NS: not significant.
Hypertension (n, %)19 (55.9)64 (53.3)0.792
Hyperlipidemia (n, %)16 (47.1)79 (65.8)0.047*
Cerebrovascular accident (n, %)12 (35.3)47 (39.2)0.682
Asthma (n, %)10 (29.4)32 (26.7)0.751
Migraine (n, %)8 (23.5)17 (14.2)0.191
Osteoarthritis (n, %)8 (23.5)33 (27.5)0.644
Chronic kidney disease (n, %)8 (23.5)16 (13.3)0.148
Congestive heart failure (n, %)7 (20.6)9 (7.5)0.027*
Cancer (n, %)6 (17.6)26 (21.7)0.610
Other endocrine disorder (n, %)6 (17.6)8 (6.7)0.083
Atrial septal aneurysm (n, %)6 (17.6)20 (16.7)0.893
Diabetes mellitus (n, %)5 (14.7)27 (22.5)0.323
Hypothyroidism (n, %)4 (11.8)23 (19.2)NS
Other rheumatological disease (n, %)4 (11.8)18 (15.0)NS
Coronary artery disease (n, %)3 (8.8)12 (10.0)NS
Atrial fibrillation (n, %)3 (8.8)16 (13.3)NS
Immunosuppression post chemotherapy (n, %)3 (8.8)3 (2.5)NS
Peripheral arterial disease (n, %)2 (5.9)6 (5.0)NS
Colorectal disorder (n, %)2 (5.9)29 (24.2)NS
Liver disease (n, %)1 (2.9)11 (9.2)NS
Nephrotic syndrome (n, %)1 (2.9)2 (1.7)NS
Carotid artery stenosis (n, %)0 (0.0)8 (6.7)NS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection (n, %)0 (0.0)3 (2.5)NS
Immunodeficiency disease (n, %)0 (0.0)1 (0.8)NS
Post-transplant immunosuppression (n, %)0 (0.0)1 (0.8)NS
Chronic obstructive airway disease (n, %)0 (0.0)11 (9.2)NS

 

Table 4. Medications
 
VariablePFO with PE (n = 34)PFO without PE (n = 120)Pa
aChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism.
Oral anticoagulant (n, %)19 (55.9)18 (15.0)< 0.001
Statin (n, %)13 (38.2)61 (50.8)0.194
Aspirin (n, %)11 (32.4)61 (50.8)0.057
Estrogen (n, %)1 (2.9)8 (6.7)0.685