J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 12, Number 3, March 2020, pages 190-199

Risk of Stroke in Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale Who Had Pulmonary Embolism

Figure 1. Frequencies of comorbid conditions in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) with pulmonary embolism (PE) and in patients with PFO without PE.

**Table 1.** Baseline Characteristics
Variable	PFO with PE (n = 34)	PFO without PE (n = 120)	P
^aIndependent t-test. ^bChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; SD: standard deviation; NS: not significant; VTE: venous thromboembolism.
Age, mean (SD)	54.8 (14.5)	57.8 (16.0)	0.331^a
Gender
Male (n, %)	15 (44.1)	55 (45.8)	0.859^b
Female (n, %)	19 (55.9)	65 (54.2)	0.859^b
Race
Caucasian (n, %)	23 (67.7)	80 (66.7)	0.605^b
African American (n, %)	9 (26.5)	24 (20.0)	0.514^b
Hispanic (n, %)	1 (2.9)	10 (8.3)	NS^b
Other (n, %)	1 (2.9)	6 (5.0)	NS^b
Social factors
Alcohol (n, %)	6 (17.6)	50 (41.7)	< 0.05^b
Cigarettes (n, %)	10 (29.4)	45 (37.5)	0.385^b
Illicit drug use (n, %)	0 (0.0)	9 (7.5)	NS^b
Medical history
VTE (n, %)	23 (67.6)	7 (5.8)	< 0.001^b
Trauma (n, %)	7 (20.6)	19 (15.8)	0.514^b
Surgery (n, %)	28 (82.4)	97 (80.8)	0.841^b

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics

Variable

PFO with PE (n = 34)

PFO without PE (n = 120)

^aIndependent t-test. ^bChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; SD: standard deviation; NS: not significant; VTE: venous thromboembolism.

Age, mean (SD)

54.8 (14.5)

57.8 (16.0)

0.331^a

Gender

Male (n, %)

15 (44.1)

55 (45.8)

0.859^b

Female (n, %)

19 (55.9)

65 (54.2)

0.859^b

Race

Caucasian (n, %)

23 (67.7)

80 (66.7)

0.605^b

African American (n, %)

9 (26.5)

24 (20.0)

0.514^b

Hispanic (n, %)

1 (2.9)

10 (8.3)

NS^b

Other (n, %)

1 (2.9)

6 (5.0)

NS^b

Social factors

Alcohol (n, %)

6 (17.6)

50 (41.7)

< 0.05^b

Cigarettes (n, %)

10 (29.4)

45 (37.5)

0.385^b

Illicit drug use (n, %)

0 (0.0)

9 (7.5)

NS^b

Medical history

VTE (n, %)

23 (67.6)

7 (5.8)

< 0.001^b

Trauma (n, %)

7 (20.6)

19 (15.8)

0.514^b

Surgery (n, %)

28 (82.4)

97 (80.8)

0.841^b

**Table 2.** Vitals and Diagnostic Tests
Variable	PFO with PE (n = 34)	PFO without PE (n = 120)	P
*P < 0.05. ^aIndependent t-test. ^bChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; SD: standard deviation; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; PA: pulmonary artery.
Heart rate (beats per minute) (mean, SD)	77.6 (14.732)	74.4 (14.036)	0.245^a
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)	125.9 (17.917)	125.4 (17.776)	0.884^a
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)	77.3 (12.525)	75.0 (10.124)	0.261^a
Body mass index (kg/m²) (mean, SD)	32.5 (8.848)	28.4 (6.994)	0.005*^{, a}
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)	163.8 (40.739)	163.8 (44.291)	1.000^a
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)	87.8 (32.480)	90.6 (35.464)	0.681^a
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)	55.2 (13.221)	53.3 (16.064)	0.519^a
Triglyceride (mg/dL) (mean, SD)	103.3 (67.503)	108.8 (61.660)	0.651^a
Red blood cells (× 10⁶/µL) (mean, SD)	4.1 (1.203)	4.5 (0.596)	0.031*^{, a}
Serum creatinine (mg/dL) (mean, SD)	1.2 (1.437)	0.9 (0.447)	0.272^a
Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) (mean, SD)	54.9 (13.005)	59.6 (6.848)	0.049*^{, a}
Mean PA pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)	27.3 (10.073)	27.4 (8.329)	0.983^a
Right atrial dysfunction (n, %)	1 (2.9)	5 (4.2)	1.000^b
Atrial septal aneurysm (n, %)	6 (17.6)	20 (16.7)	0.893^b

Table 2. Vitals and Diagnostic Tests

Variable

PFO with PE (n = 34)

PFO without PE (n = 120)

*P < 0.05. ^aIndependent t-test. ^bChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; SD: standard deviation; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; PA: pulmonary artery.

Heart rate (beats per minute) (mean, SD)

77.6 (14.732)

74.4 (14.036)

0.245^a

Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)

125.9 (17.917)

125.4 (17.776)

0.884^a

Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)

77.3 (12.525)

75.0 (10.124)

0.261^a

Body mass index (kg/m²) (mean, SD)

32.5 (8.848)

28.4 (6.994)

0.005*^{, a}

Total cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)

163.8 (40.739)

163.8 (44.291)

1.000^a

LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)

87.8 (32.480)

90.6 (35.464)

0.681^a

HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) (mean, SD)

55.2 (13.221)

53.3 (16.064)

0.519^a

Triglyceride (mg/dL) (mean, SD)

103.3 (67.503)

108.8 (61.660)

0.651^a

Red blood cells (× 10⁶/µL) (mean, SD)

4.1 (1.203)

4.5 (0.596)

0.031*^{, a}

Serum creatinine (mg/dL) (mean, SD)

1.2 (1.437)

0.9 (0.447)

0.272^a

Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) (mean, SD)

54.9 (13.005)

59.6 (6.848)

0.049*^{, a}

Mean PA pressure (mm Hg) (mean, SD)

27.3 (10.073)

27.4 (8.329)

0.983^a

Right atrial dysfunction (n, %)

1 (2.9)

5 (4.2)

1.000^b

Atrial septal aneurysm (n, %)

6 (17.6)

20 (16.7)

0.893^b

**Table 3.** Associated Comorbid Conditions
Variable	PFO with PE (n = 34)	PFO without PE (n = 120)	P^a
*P < 0.05. ^aChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; NS: not significant.
Hypertension (n, %)	19 (55.9)	64 (53.3)	0.792
Hyperlipidemia (n, %)	16 (47.1)	79 (65.8)	0.047*
Cerebrovascular accident (n, %)	12 (35.3)	47 (39.2)	0.682
Asthma (n, %)	10 (29.4)	32 (26.7)	0.751
Migraine (n, %)	8 (23.5)	17 (14.2)	0.191
Osteoarthritis (n, %)	8 (23.5)	33 (27.5)	0.644
Chronic kidney disease (n, %)	8 (23.5)	16 (13.3)	0.148
Congestive heart failure (n, %)	7 (20.6)	9 (7.5)	0.027*
Cancer (n, %)	6 (17.6)	26 (21.7)	0.610
Other endocrine disorder (n, %)	6 (17.6)	8 (6.7)	0.083
Atrial septal aneurysm (n, %)	6 (17.6)	20 (16.7)	0.893
Diabetes mellitus (n, %)	5 (14.7)	27 (22.5)	0.323
Hypothyroidism (n, %)	4 (11.8)	23 (19.2)	NS
Other rheumatological disease (n, %)	4 (11.8)	18 (15.0)	NS
Coronary artery disease (n, %)	3 (8.8)	12 (10.0)	NS
Atrial fibrillation (n, %)	3 (8.8)	16 (13.3)	NS
Immunosuppression post chemotherapy (n, %)	3 (8.8)	3 (2.5)	NS
Peripheral arterial disease (n, %)	2 (5.9)	6 (5.0)	NS
Colorectal disorder (n, %)	2 (5.9)	29 (24.2)	NS
Liver disease (n, %)	1 (2.9)	11 (9.2)	NS
Nephrotic syndrome (n, %)	1 (2.9)	2 (1.7)	NS
Carotid artery stenosis (n, %)	0 (0.0)	8 (6.7)	NS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection (n, %)	0 (0.0)	3 (2.5)	NS
Immunodeficiency disease (n, %)	0 (0.0)	1 (0.8)	NS
Post-transplant immunosuppression (n, %)	0 (0.0)	1 (0.8)	NS
Chronic obstructive airway disease (n, %)	0 (0.0)	11 (9.2)	NS

Table 3. Associated Comorbid Conditions

Variable

PFO with PE (n = 34)

PFO without PE (n = 120)

P^a

*P < 0.05. ^aChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism; NS: not significant.

Hypertension (n, %)

19 (55.9)

64 (53.3)

0.792

Hyperlipidemia (n, %)

16 (47.1)

79 (65.8)

0.047*

Cerebrovascular accident (n, %)

12 (35.3)

47 (39.2)

0.682

Asthma (n, %)

10 (29.4)

32 (26.7)

0.751

Migraine (n, %)

8 (23.5)

17 (14.2)

0.191

Osteoarthritis (n, %)

8 (23.5)

33 (27.5)

0.644

Chronic kidney disease (n, %)

8 (23.5)

16 (13.3)

0.148

Congestive heart failure (n, %)

7 (20.6)

9 (7.5)

0.027*

Cancer (n, %)

6 (17.6)

26 (21.7)

0.610

Other endocrine disorder (n, %)

6 (17.6)

8 (6.7)

0.083

Atrial septal aneurysm (n, %)

6 (17.6)

20 (16.7)

0.893

Diabetes mellitus (n, %)

5 (14.7)

27 (22.5)

0.323

Hypothyroidism (n, %)

4 (11.8)

23 (19.2)

Other rheumatological disease (n, %)

4 (11.8)

18 (15.0)

Coronary artery disease (n, %)

3 (8.8)

12 (10.0)

Atrial fibrillation (n, %)

3 (8.8)

16 (13.3)

Immunosuppression post chemotherapy (n, %)

3 (8.8)

3 (2.5)

Peripheral arterial disease (n, %)

2 (5.9)

6 (5.0)

Colorectal disorder (n, %)

2 (5.9)

29 (24.2)

Liver disease (n, %)

1 (2.9)

11 (9.2)

Nephrotic syndrome (n, %)

1 (2.9)

2 (1.7)

Carotid artery stenosis (n, %)

0 (0.0)

8 (6.7)

Human immunodeficiency virus infection (n, %)

0 (0.0)

3 (2.5)

Immunodeficiency disease (n, %)

0 (0.0)

1 (0.8)

Post-transplant immunosuppression (n, %)

0 (0.0)

1 (0.8)

Chronic obstructive airway disease (n, %)

0 (0.0)

11 (9.2)

**Table 4.** Medications
Variable	PFO with PE (n = 34)	PFO without PE (n = 120)	P^a
^aChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism.
Oral anticoagulant (n, %)	19 (55.9)	18 (15.0)	< 0.001
Statin (n, %)	13 (38.2)	61 (50.8)	0.194
Aspirin (n, %)	11 (32.4)	61 (50.8)	0.057
Estrogen (n, %)	1 (2.9)	8 (6.7)	0.685

Table 4. Medications

Variable

PFO with PE (n = 34)

PFO without PE (n = 120)

P^a

^aChi-square and Fisher exact test. PFO: patent foramen ovale; PE: pulmonary embolism.

Oral anticoagulant (n, %)

19 (55.9)

18 (15.0)

< 0.001

Statin (n, %)

13 (38.2)

61 (50.8)

0.194

Aspirin (n, %)

11 (32.4)

61 (50.8)

0.057

Estrogen (n, %)

1 (2.9)

8 (6.7)

0.685