Pulmonary Embolism (PE) to Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Disease (CTEPD): Findings from a Survey of UK Physicians

Highlights What are the main findings? Considerable variability was reported in the follow-up of patients presenting with acute PE and in the awareness and investigation of suspected CTEPD; Despite most participants having local guidelines for PE management, less than two-thirds reported that a dedicated PE follow-up clinic was available. What is the implication of the main findings? These data suggest that a national audit should be performed to gain an understanding of the barriers to the timely detection of CTEPD among UK physicians.Highlights What are the main findings? Considerable variability was reported in the follow-up of patients presenting with acute PE and in the awareness and investigation of suspected CTEPD; Despite most participants having local guidelines for PE management, less than two-thirds reported that a dedicated PE follow-up clinic was available. What is the implication of the main findings? These data suggest that a national audit should be performed to gain an understanding of the barriers to the timely detection of CTEPD among UK physicians.Abstract Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) is a complication of pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted an online survey of UK PE-treating physicians to understand practices in the follow-up of PE and awareness of CTEPD. The physicians surveyed (N = 175) included 50 each from cardiology, respiratory and internal medicine, plus 25 haematologists. Most (89%) participants had local guidelines for PE management, and 65% reported a PE follow-up clinic, of which 69% were joint clinics. Almost half (47%) had a protocol for the investigation of CTEPD. According to participants, 129 (74%) routinely consider a diagnosis of CTEPD and 97 (55%) routinely investigate for CTEPD, with 76% of those 97 participants investigating in patients who are symptomatic at 3 months and 22% investigating in all patients. This survey demonstrated variability in the follow-up of PE and the awareness of CTEPD and its investigation. The findings support the conduct of a national audit to understand the barriers to the timely detection of CTEPD.