Experiences of air travel in patients with chronic heart failure

Ingle, Lee; Hobkirk, James; Damy, Thibaud; Nabb, Samantha; Clark, Andrew L.; Cleland, John G.F.

Abstract

AIM: To conduct a survey in a representative cohort of ambulatory patients with stable, well managed chronic heart failure (CHF) to discover their experiences of air travel. METHODS: An expert panel including a cardiologist, an exercise scientist, and a psychologist developed a series of survey questions designed to elicit CHF patients' experiences of air travel (Appendix1). The survey questions, information sheets and consent forms were posted out in a self-addressed envelope to 1293 CHF patients. RESULTS: 464 patients (response rate 39%) completed the survey questionnaires. 54% of patients had travelled by air since their heart failure diagnosis. 20% of all patients reported difficulties acquiring travel insurance. 65% of patients who travelled by air experienced no health-related problems. 35% of patients who travelled by air experienced health problems, mainly at the final destination, going through security and on the aircraft. 27% of all patients would not travel by air in the future. 38% of patients would consider flying again if there were more leg room on the aeroplane, if their personal health improved (18%), if they could find cheaper travel insurance (19%), if there were less waiting at the airport (11%), or if there were less walking/fewer stairs to negotiate at the airport (7%). CONCLUSION: For most patients in this sample of stable, well managed CHF, air travel was safe.

Citation

Ingle, L., Hobkirk, J., Damy, T., Nabb, S., Clark, A. L., & Cleland, J. G. (2012). Experiences of air travel in patients with chronic heart failure. International journal of cardiology, 158(1), 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.12.101

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 30, 2010
• Online Publication Date: Jan 21, 2011
• Publication Date: Jun 28, 2012
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: International journal of cardiology
• Print ISSN: 0167-5273
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 158
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 66-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.12.101
• Keywords: Survey; Risk; Flying; Health problems; Symptoms
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/465229
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167527311000027
• Additional Information: Copy of article first published in: International journal of cardiology, 2012, v.158, issue 1.
• Contract Date: Nov 13, 2014