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International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health
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Guiu, G., Monin, J., Perrier, E., Manen, O. (2019). Epidemiology of Inflight Medical Events. International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, 7(1), 10-12. doi: 10.15171/ijtmgh.2019.03
Gaetan Guiu; Jonathan Monin; Eric Perrier; Olivier Manen. "Epidemiology of Inflight Medical Events". International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, 7, 1, 2019, 10-12. doi: 10.15171/ijtmgh.2019.03
Guiu, G., Monin, J., Perrier, E., Manen, O. (2019). 'Epidemiology of Inflight Medical Events', International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, 7(1), pp. 10-12. doi: 10.15171/ijtmgh.2019.03
Guiu, G., Monin, J., Perrier, E., Manen, O. Epidemiology of Inflight Medical Events. International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, 2019; 7(1): 10-12. doi: 10.15171/ijtmgh.2019.03

Epidemiology of Inflight Medical Events

Article 3, Volume 7, Issue 1, Winter 2019, Page 10-12  XML PDF (172.3 K)
Document Type: Mini Review
DOI: 10.15171/ijtmgh.2019.03
Authors
Gaetan Guiu email ; Jonathan Monin; Eric Perrier; Olivier Manen
Aeronautical Expertise Department, Percy Military Hospital, French Military Health Service, Paris, France
Receive Date: 01 October 2018,  Revise Date: 17 December 2018,  Accept Date: 15 January 2019 
Abstract
Introduction: Since the 1950s, air travel has grown exponentially. In 2018, the number of international air passengers was estimated at 4.1 billion. Air travel exposes the passenger to a number of constraints (like physical constraints, stress) that can be correlated and lead to an inflight medical event, especially for passengers with chronic conditions or fragile health.
Methods: In June 2017, a mini review of the literature was conducted in order to summarize the data on inflight medical events and their frequency, types, and consequences.
Results: The most frequent inflight medical events are syncope and lipothymic discomfort, followed by digestive disorders, cardiorespiratory symptoms, neuropsychiatric disorders, and trauma. In almost two-thirds of all cases, these medical events are linked to a pre-existing pathology. There is no reliable register of inflight medical events, but their number is estimated to be between 120 to 350 each day throughout the world.
Conclusion: The definition of an inflight medical event deserves to be specified, and the collection of these events needs to be standardized. This will help bring about a better understanding of the issue and maybe raise awareness among passengers with chronic diseases or fragile health and their general practitioners.
Keywords
Epidemiology; Digestive System Diseases; Syncope
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