Pulmonary embolism

Sudden illness and injury. Also called: PE, Blood clot in the lung.

How common is Pulmonary embolism in the US?

Adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE): 723,579 (Hospitalizations for acute PE, United States, National Inpatient Sample, 2018-2021 (weighted count over 4 years, not an annual rate); United States (National Inpatient Sample, nationally representative US cohort), 2018-2021). Source: Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, 2026. Label: REPORTED.

• 723,579 Adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Out of: Hospitalizations for acute PE, United States, National Inpatient Sample, 2018-2021 (weighted count over 4 years, not an annual rate). Where: United States (National Inpatient Sample, nationally representative US cohort). When: 2018-2021. Hospitalized cases with a primary diagnosis of PE only; excludes PE diagnosed as a secondary condition, cases treated without hospitalization, and those fatal before hospital arrival. Label: REPORTED.

  An estimated 723,579 (weighted) hospitalizations for acute PE were identified, with in-hospital mortality rate of 3%.

  Source: Clinical and Socioeconomic Predictors of In-hospital Mortality in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Cross-sectional Study using the US National Inpatient Sample data. Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, 2026. PubMed 42254463. DOI 10.1016/j.rpth.2026.106652.

Each figure measures something different. Do not compare them with each other or with other conditions.

Medical codes

• ICD-10-CM FY2026: I26.99 Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale (narrower). Other codes in this category also apply.

Research activity

As of 2026-09-24: 995 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (search Pulmonary Embolism) and 13,225 PubMed records, 2021 to 2025. A count of records is not how common or serious the condition is.

Population information, not medical advice. Methodology · Known limitations