[Pulmonary embolism--temporal aspects].

The post-mortem incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the years 1960-2000 was retrospectively reviewed. In five reference years 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 there was a total of 582 necropsy patients with PE encountered in 3420 autopsies of adults (> 18 y.)--an incidence of 17.0%. The incidence had a steadily declining trend--from 19.2% in 1960 to 14.2% in the year 2000. The incidence was higher in females (20.4%) than in males (14.4%). We have also followed the seasonal variation of PE incidence; this was the highest in autumn (September-November) 18.6%, and the lowest in spring (March-May) 14.3%. The average age of patients who died with PE increased from 63.7 y. in 1960 to 67.8 y. in 2000; it was higher in females (66.9 y.) than in males (64.2 y.). Our results confirm those of most pathological studies that the post-mortem incidence of PE is declining.