The BEST study - a prospective study to compare business class versus economy class air travel as a cause of thrombosis : original article

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 93; no. 7; pp. 522 - 528
• Main Authors: Rogers, Timothy, Becker, Piet J., Veller, Martin, Brackin, Robyn, Marcos, Elizabeth, Carter, Andrew, Abdool-Carrim, A. Talib O., Burnand, Kevin G., Nel, Marietha J., Le Roux, Dirk, Calvert-Evers, Jennifer L., Smith, Alberto, Jacobson, Barry F., Munster, Marion
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG) 01.07.2003
• Subjects: Aircraft; Business class; Economy class; Questionnaire; Travel; Venous thrombosis
• ISSN: 0256-9574; 2078-5135

Background. As many as 10% of airline passengers travelling without prophylaxis for long distances may develop a venous thrombosis. There is, however, no evidence that economy class travellers are at increased risk of thrombosis. Objectives. A suitably powered prospective study, based on the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) reported in previous studies on long-haul flights, was designed to determine the incidence of positive venous duplex scans and D-dimer elevations in low and intermediate-risk passengers, comparing passengers travelling in business and economy class. Patients/methods. Eight hundred and ninety-nine passengers were recruited (180 travelling business class and 719 travelling economy). D-dimers were measured before and after the flight. A value greater than 500 ng/ml was accepted as abnormal. A thrombophilia screen was conducted which included the factor V Leiden mutation, the prothombin 20210Amutation, protein C and S levels, antithrombin levels, and anticardiolipin antibodies immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). On arrival, lower limb compression ultrasonography of the deep veins was performed. Logistical regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors related to abnormally high D-dimer levels. Results. Only 434 subjects had a full venous duplex scan performed. None had ultrasonic evidence of venous thrombosis. Nine passengers tested at departure had elevated D-dimer levels and these volunteers were excluded from further study. Seventy-four of the 899 passengers had raised D-dimers on arrival. Twenty-two of 180 business class passengers (12%) developed elevated D-dimers compared with 52 of 719 economy class passengers (7%). There was no significant association between elevation of D-dimers and the class flown (odds ratio (OR) 0.61, p = 0.109). The factor V Leiden mutation, factor VIII levels and the use of aspirin were, however, associated with raised D-dimers (OR 3.36, p = 0.024; OR 1.01, p = 0.014; and OR 2.04, p = 0.038, respectively). Five hundred and five passengers were contacted within 6 months and none reported any symptoms of a clinical thrombosis or pulmonary embolus. Conclusion. The incidence of ultrasonically proven DVT is much lower than previously reported. However, more than 10% of all passengers developed raised D-dimers, which were unrelated to the class flown. A rise in D-dimers is associated with an inherent risk of thrombosis and/or thrombophilia, demonstrates activation of both the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems during long-haul flights, and may indicate the development of small thrombi.