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  • Title: Gender-associated findings in postmortem examinations of elderly patients: an increased rate of pulmonary embolism in women.
    Author: Leibovitz A, Blumenfeld O, Segal R, Lubart E, Baumoehl Y, Habot B.
    Journal: Isr Med Assoc J; 2003 May; 5(5):340-2. PubMed ID: 12811951.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: While age at death is on the rise, the number of postmortem examinations is declining and is disproportionately low among the elderly population. Research on, the subject of gender-associated pathology in the elderly is also scarce. OBJECTIVE: To seek eventual gender-related differences in autopsies of elderly patients. METHODS: We analyzed the data extracted from a published report on 93 PMEs performed at a geriatric hospital during the past 20 years. RESULTS: Ninety-three autopsies, representing 1.2% of the 8,101 deaths during these 20 years, were performed. Forty-five of the deceased were women and 48 were men. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was significantly higher in women (28%) than in men (10%) (P < 0.02). There was no significant difference in the gender distribution of the other diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Gender distribution of PME-based causes of death in elderly patients revealed a significant rate of pulmonary embolism in women. A thorough search of the medical literature revealed two previous studies with similar findings. Further research will determine whether pulmonary embolism is more frequent or whether it has a worse prognosis in frail elderly women.
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