Who Is At Risk for Pulmonary Embolism?

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs equally in men and women. Risk increases with age. For every 10 years after age 60, the risk of PE doubles.

Certain inherited conditions, such as factor V Leiden, increase the risk of blood clotting and, therefore, the risk of PE.

Major Risk Factors

People at high risk for PE are those who:

• Have deep vein thrombosis (DVT, a blood clot in the leg) or a history of DVT
• Have had PE before

Other Risk Factors

People who have been recently treated for cancer or who have a central venous catheter are more likely to develop DVT. A central venous catheter is a tube placed in a vein to allow easy access to the bloodstream for medical treatment.

People who have been bedridden or have had surgery or suffered a broken bone in the past few weeks also are at increased risk for PE.

Other risk factors for DVT, which can lead to PE, include sitting for long periods (such as on long car or airplane rides), pregnancy and the 6-week period after pregnancy, and being overweight or obese. Women who take hormone therapy or birth control pills also are at increased risk for DVT.

People who have more than one risk factor are at higher risk for blood clots.