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Intercontinental travel and its effect on pre-existing illnesses
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Travelers to tropical destinations experienced significant health improvements, particularly for chronic respiratory and rheumatologic conditions, compared to those visiting North America. While disease aggravation was rare, younger travelers and those with digestive issues faced higher risks in tropical regions.
Area of Science:
- Travel medicine
- Public health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pre-existing illnesses can be influenced by travel to different climates and environments.
- Understanding health impacts of international travel is crucial for passenger well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of vacation travel on pre-existing illnesses in European air passengers.
- To compare health changes between travel to tropical destinations and North America.
Main Methods:
- Survey of over 12,000 European air passengers regarding changes in pre-existing conditions post-vacation.
- Comparison of self-reported health status changes between travelers to tropical regions and North America (USA/Canada).
Main Results:
- 1.6% of tropical travelers reported disease improvement vs. 0.5% of North America travelers, a significant difference.
- Improvements were notable in chronic respiratory tract infections and chronic rheumatologic conditions.
- Disease aggravation occurred in 0.9% (tropics) and 0.7% (North America), rarely severe.
- In tropical destinations, individuals under 30 and those with digestive problems were more frequently adversely affected.
Conclusions:
- Tropical vacations show a higher likelihood of improving certain pre-existing conditions compared to North American travel.
- While overall disease aggravation is low, specific demographics and health issues present increased risks in tropical environments.
- Further research into travel-related health outcomes is warranted, especially for vulnerable groups.