Recommendations for travelling with bronchiectasis: a joint ELF/EMBARC/ERN-Lung collaboration

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Travel Health

Background:

• Limited guidance exists for safe travel with bronchiectasis.
• Patients need recommendations for adapting daily treatments during travel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-based recommendations for safe travel in patients with bronchiectasis.
• To address patient concerns regarding travel safety, treatment maintenance, and managing exacerbations abroad.

Main Methods:

• A panel of 13 patients formulated travel-related questions.
• A questionnaire based on patient input was distributed to 26 bronchiectasis experts.
• Recommendations were established where 80% or more experts reached an agreement.

Main Results:

• Recommendations cover travel safety, destination choices, insurance, medication management, and oxygen needs.
• Expert consensus was reached on various aspects of travel for bronchiectasis patients.
• Some recommendations did not achieve 80% agreement, indicating individual patient variability.

Conclusions:

• Travel is generally considered safe for the majority of individuals with bronchiectasis.
• Thorough preparation and open communication with healthcare providers are crucial for safe and successful travel.
• Personalized planning is fundamental for managing different travel scenarios with bronchiectasis.