Table 2.

Symptoms, signs, and risk factors for pulmonary embolism

n (N= 261)%
Symptoms
  Dyspnoea20377.8
  Chest pain15659.8
  Cough7829.9
  Haemoptysis93.4
  Fever3914.9
  Calf pain7328.0
Signs
  Tachycardiaa7629.5
  Rales4517.2
  Decreased breath sounds2610.0
  Signs of DVT6224.0
Risk factors
  Known malignancy2911.1
  Previous DVT/PE4818.4
  Surgery/trauma or immobilisationb3011.5
  Thrombophilia20.8

  • ↵a Tachycardia defined as heart rate >100 beats per minute.

  • ↵b Surgery or trauma in the previous 4 weeks, immobilisation for at least 3 days. DVT = deep venous thrombosis. PE = pulmonary embolism.