The Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13) scale is superior to sPESI in predicting 3-month post-discharge mortality in elderly survivors of acute pulmonary embolism.

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is the most serious manifestation of venous thromboembolism. The Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) is employed for prediction of 30-day mortality in APE. The Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) is used to identify participants at risk of health impairment. To compare the VES-13 scale and sPESI in predicting the 3-month mortality in elderly patients hospitalized for APE. All patients with APE were managed according to ESC guidelines and followed up for at least 3 months after discharge. In the clinical evaluation of all patients, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and biochemical tests were performed. Patients with VES-13≥3 scores were evaluated with comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Among the total patients, 164 met the inclusion criteria. There was a significantly lower percentage of men in the VES-13≥3 vs VES-13<3 group (34% vs 54.5%, P<0.01). Patients with VES-13≥3 vs VES-13<3 points group were characterized by lower BMI (median 25.6 vs 28, P=0.001) and higher sPESI (median 2 vs 1 point, P<0.001). There were no differences in APE severity according to ESC stratification and CCI. Logistic regression analysis identified the VES-13 score as the significant independent risk factor for the 3-month mortality. The VES-13 is a better tool than sPESI for predicting the 3-month mortality. Geriatric survivors of APE characterized with VES-13≥3 points should be closely monitored after discharge. The Norton scale in combination with the VES-13 may be useful in predicting 3-month mortality among the numerous tests used in the CGA.