PE is common in patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbation

---as noted in this recent paper. Another study a couple of years ago found the same thing, and I cited it here.

Authors of the recent paper conclude:

A diagnosis of PE should be considered in patients with exacerbation severe enough to warrant hospitalization, especially in those with an intermediate-to-high pretest probability of PE.

Testing in these patients needs to be individualized and based on careful clinical assessment. Inappropriate knee-jerk CT scanning may result in a spike in renal failure.