Travel patterns, risk behaviour and health problems of travellers with rheumatic diseases compared to controls: A multi-centre, observational study.
Health problems
Immunosuppression
Rheumatic disease
Risk behaviour
Travel
Journal
Travel medicine and infectious disease
ISSN: 1873-0442
Titre abrégé: Travel Med Infect Dis
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101230758
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
17
03
2020
revised:
29
06
2020
accepted:
30
06
2020
pubmed:
28
7
2020
medline:
2
7
2021
entrez:
27
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Patients with chronic conditions travel around the world more than ever. Only few studies have examined travel patterns and health outcomes of patients with rheumatic diseases during international travel. We conducted a multi-centre prospective cohort study in Switzerland, in which we studied the immunogenicity and safety of vaccinations in patients with rheumatic diseases and travellers without rheumatic diseases (controls). Participants who travelled internationally received questionnaires 1 and 13 weeks post-travel. We compared travel patterns, risk behaviours, and travel-associated problems during and after the trips in both groups. 274 participants returned post-travel questionnaires (65 rheumatic patients, 209 controls). Controls more frequently travelled to subtropical/tropical destinations and stayed longer abroad. 64% of all participants experienced health problems during travel (74% rheumatic patients vs. 62% controls, P = 0.11). Pre-travel, patients reported a higher susceptibility to gastrointestinal infections . During travel, a higher percentage of rheumatic patients cancelled the day programme due to health problems (13% vs. 4%, P = 0.024). The main problems in rheumatic patients occurred due to the underlying rheumatic diseases, or were of psychological nature. Although not statistically significant, infectious disease symptoms (rhinitis, cough) occurred more frequently in controls. When only considering subtropical/tropical destinations, rheumatic patients more frequently had gastrointestinal problems during travel - and skin infections after the trip. This study does not support the notion that patients with rheumatic diseases should avoid international travel for an increased risk of infections. In patients with subtropical/tropical destinations, however, gastrointestinal problems may be increased during travel - and skin infections post-travel.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Patients with chronic conditions travel around the world more than ever. Only few studies have examined travel patterns and health outcomes of patients with rheumatic diseases during international travel.
METHOD
We conducted a multi-centre prospective cohort study in Switzerland, in which we studied the immunogenicity and safety of vaccinations in patients with rheumatic diseases and travellers without rheumatic diseases (controls). Participants who travelled internationally received questionnaires 1 and 13 weeks post-travel. We compared travel patterns, risk behaviours, and travel-associated problems during and after the trips in both groups.
RESULTS
274 participants returned post-travel questionnaires (65 rheumatic patients, 209 controls). Controls more frequently travelled to subtropical/tropical destinations and stayed longer abroad. 64% of all participants experienced health problems during travel (74% rheumatic patients vs. 62% controls, P = 0.11). Pre-travel, patients reported a higher susceptibility to gastrointestinal infections . During travel, a higher percentage of rheumatic patients cancelled the day programme due to health problems (13% vs. 4%, P = 0.024). The main problems in rheumatic patients occurred due to the underlying rheumatic diseases, or were of psychological nature. Although not statistically significant, infectious disease symptoms (rhinitis, cough) occurred more frequently in controls. When only considering subtropical/tropical destinations, rheumatic patients more frequently had gastrointestinal problems during travel - and skin infections after the trip.
CONCLUSIONS
This study does not support the notion that patients with rheumatic diseases should avoid international travel for an increased risk of infections. In patients with subtropical/tropical destinations, however, gastrointestinal problems may be increased during travel - and skin infections post-travel.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32712263
pii: S1477-8939(20)30314-8
doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101818
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
101818Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.