Gender-associated findings in postmortem examinations of elderly patients: an increased rate of pulmonary embolism in women.

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.