International travel patterns and travel risks for stem cell transplant recipients Journal Article
| Authors: | Mikati, T.; Griffin, K.; Lane, D.; Matasar, M.; Shah, M. K. |
| Article Title: | International travel patterns and travel risks for stem cell transplant recipients |
| Abstract: | Background 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). Methods 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. Results 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 2years after SCT. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, variables significantly associated with international travel within first 2years 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%, p=0.005), to have had a longer mean trip duration (24 vs 12days, p=0.0002), and to have visited friends and relatives (69 vs 21%, p<0.0001). Conclusions International travel was common among SCTRs within 2years 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. © 2014 International Society of Travel Medicine. |
| Keywords: | adult; middle aged; antibiotic agent; young adult; major clinical study; allogeneic stem cell transplantation; diarrhea; united states; incidence; antifungal agent; autologous stem cell transplantation; stem cell transplantation; antiinfective agent; nonhodgkin lymphoma; proportional hazards model; acute myeloblastic leukemia; cross-sectional study; antivirus agent; hazard ratio; observational study; antimalarial agent; influenza vaccine; influenza; canada; patient counseling; ethnicity; income; caucasian; antidiarrheal agent; poliomyelitis vaccine; travel; traveller diarrhea; recipient; malaria; health hazard; central america; plasma cell dyscrasia; help seeking behavior; poliomyelitis; typhoid fever; western europe; rabies vaccine; mexico; human; male; female; article; rabies; hepatitis a vaccine; insect repellent; typhoid vaccine; caribbean; emporiatrics; hepatitis a; tourism |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Travel Medicine |
| Volume: | 22 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| ISSN: | 1195-1982 |
| Publisher: | International Society of Travel Medicine |
| Date Published: | 2015-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 39 |
| End Page: | 47 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jtm.12166 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 25327693 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Export Date: 3 August 2015 -- Source: Scopus |
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
Related MSK Work