Introduction:Although it is well known that pulmonary embolism (PE) has well-defined risk factors and clinical presentation, there are relatively few studies about pulmonary embolism specifically in young adults under the age of 45 years. 

Aim:To study the particularities of PE in young adults.

Methods: The study included patients with PE diagnosed in the pulmonary department of Charles Nicole Hospital, over a period of 19 years in a retrospective design. Patients were divided into two groups: G1 (n=60): age =<45 years and G2 (n=113): age>45 years. We compared risk factors, symptoms and severity of PE in the 2 groups.

Results: We included 179 patients. There was not a difference concerning clinical probability according to Wells and Geneva scores.

The two groups were statistically different in terms of comorbidities and risk factors (G1: 17.5%, G2: 82.5%; p=0.008). So, Hypertension (p=0.002), diabetes (p=0.01), cardiomyopathy (p=0.016), COPD (p=0.03), and cancer (p=0.01) were less frequent in young adults. However, a history of systemic disease (p=0.004) and thrombo-embolic disease (p=0.03) were more frequent.

Also, chest pain (p<0.0001) and hemoptysis (p=0.001) were significantly more observed in G1. But, dyspnea (p=0.008) was more seen in G2.

D-dimer level was higher in G2 (p=0.02) with a positive correlation with age (r=0.25).

In addition, PE seems to be more sever in G2 with lower oxygen pressure (p<0.0001) and saturation (p=0.04). Hypocapnie was more frequent in young patients (86.7% vs 47.8%, p=0.015)

Conclusion:Our results agree with the literature in terms of frequencies of risk factors and comorbidities. Also the severity of the embolism which seems correlated to age.