Presentation, risk assessment, and clinical outcomes of patients with air travel–related emergencies in the emergency department
American Journal of Emergency Medicine, cilt.98, ss.130-137, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 98
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.08.054
- Dergi Adı: American Journal of Emergency Medicine
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.130-137
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Air travel, Comorbidity, Fit-to-fly, Global health, Hospital admission risk
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: Air travel is widely preferred for its speed, convenience, and affordability. As international air traffic increases, air travel–related medical emergencies have become more frequent. This study examines air travel–related emergencies in the emergency department, focusing on comorbidities and key factors affecting acute care outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included adult patients presenting with air travel–related medical emergencies between June 2020 and June 2023. Demographic data, comorbidities, diagnoses, and outcomes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent predictors of hospital admission and/or in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 471 patients, 84.5 % had ground-based and 15.5 % had in-flight medical events. Trauma-related cases accounted for 14 %, while non-traumatic presentations were mainly psychiatric-intoxication (15.1 %), cardiovascular (9.6 %), and neurological (8.5 %) disorders. Hospitalization and mortality rates were 28.2 % and 2.3 % respectively. Comorbidities were identified in 40.6 % of the patients. Patients with comorbidities had significantly higher hospitalization (39.8 %), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (15.2 %), and mortality (3.7 %) rates. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), as well as respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders, were independent risk factors for hospital admission and/or in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Air travel–related medical emergencies can present with various clinical profiles. Individuals with comorbidities are at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Systematic risk assessments and standardized fit-to-fly protocols are essential for high-risk individuals. Integration of pre-travel medical screening, multidisciplinary airport emergency services, and coordinated airline policies may enhance passenger safety and reduce travel–related medical emergencies.