International Travel Patterns and Travel Risks for Stem Cell Transplant Recipients. Issue 1 (17th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mikati, Tarek; Griffin, Kenneth; Lane, Dakotah; Matasar, Matthew; Shah, Monika K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of travel medicine. Volume 22:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 39
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2014-10-17
• Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Medicine, Preventive -- Periodicals; Travel -- Periodicals; 613.6805
• DOI: 10.1111/jtm.12166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1195-1982

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jtm12166-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jtm12166-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p id="jtm12166-para-0001">Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is being increasingly utilized for multiple medical illnesses. However, there is limited knowledge about international travel patterns and travel‐related illnesses of stem cell transplant recipients (SCTRs).</p> </sec> <sec id="jtm12166-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p id="jtm12166-para-0002">An observational cross‐sectional study was conducted among 979 SCTRs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center using a previously standardized and validated questionnaire. International travel post SCT, pre‐travel health advice, exposure risks, and travel‐related illnesses were queried.</p> </sec> <sec id="jtm12166-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p id="jtm12166-para-0003">A total of 516 SCTRs completed the survey (55% response rate); of these, 40% were allogeneic SCTRs. A total of 229 (44.3%) respondents reported international travel outside the United States and Canada post SCT. The international travel incidence was 32% [95% confidence interval CI 28–36] within 2 years after SCT. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, variables significantly associated with international travel within first 2 years after SCT were history of international travel prior to SCT [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.3, 95% CI 2.3–12.0], autologous SCT (HR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.6–2.8), foreign birth (HR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.5–3.3), and high income (HR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.8–3.7). During their first trip, 64 travelers (28%) had traveled to destinations that may have required vaccination or malaria chemoprophylaxis. Only 56% reported seeking pre‐travel health advice. Of those who traveled, 16 travelers (7%) became ill enough to require medical attention during their first trip after SCT. Ill travelers were more likely to have visited high‐risk areas (60 vs 26%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.005), to have had a longer mean trip duration (24 vs 12 days, <italic>p</italic> = 0.0002), and to have visited friends and relatives (69 vs 21%, <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001).</p> </sec> <sec id="jtm12166-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p id="jtm12166-para-0004">International travel was common among SCTRs within 2 years after SCT and was mainly to low‐risk destinations. Although the overall incidence of travel‐related illnesses was low, certain subgroups of travelers were at a significantly higher risk. Pre‐travel health counseling and interventions were suboptimal.</p> </sec> </abstract>