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Background: Given the heterogeneity of predisposing factors associated with pulmonary infarction (PI) and the lack of clinically relevant outcomes among patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) complicated by PI, further investigation is required., Methods: Retrospective study of patients with central PE in an 11-year period. Data were stratified according to the diagnosis of PI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyze factors associated with PI development and determine if PI was associated with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation use., Results: Of 645 patients with central PE, 24% ( n  = 156) had PI. After adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and clinical features on admission, only age (OR 0.98, CI 0.96-0.99; p  = 0.008) was independently associated with PI. Regarding outcomes, 35% ( n  = 55) had severe hypoxemic respiratory failure, and 19% ( n  = 29) required mechanical ventilation. After adjusting for demographics, PE severity, and right ventricular dysfunction, PI was independently associated with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure (OR 1.78; CI 1.18-2.69, p  = 0.005) and mechanical ventilation (OR 1.92; CI 1.14-3.22, p  = 0.013)., Conclusions: Aging is a protective factor against PI. In acute central PE, subjects with PI had higher odds of developing severe hypoxemic respiratory failure and requiring mechanical ventilation.

Screening for pulmonary fibrosis may help to identify early stages of the disease. We assessed the psychological impact of screening undiagnosed first-degree relatives of patients with pulmonary fibrosis by administering two validated measures after participants received their results: the Decisional Regret Scale and the Feelings About genomiC Testing Results Questionnaire. More than 90% of relatives reported either no or mild decisional regret. Increased measures of decisional regret and negative feelings were present in those found to have a low diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide or interstitial lung abnormalities. Results of telomere length and genetic testing did not significantly impact regret., Competing Interests: Competing interests: HH reports grants and personal fees from Canon Medical Systems Inc, grants from Konica-Minolta Inc, and personal fees from Mitsubishi Chemical Co outside the submitted work. IOR reports grants from Roche/Genentech during the conduct of the study, grants and personal fees from Genentech and personal fees from Boehringer and Bristol Myers Squibb outside the submitted work. GMH reports personal fees from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Gerson Lehrman Group and Mitsubishi Chemical outside the submitted work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)