Tourism Trend in Different Countries

**153**

**Chapter 9**

and Travel

*and Nikolaos Nikolettos*

**Keywords:** thrombosis, travel risk factors

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Vein Thrombosis Risk in Women

*Theodora Deftereou, Anna Chalkidou, Anastasia Bothou,* 

*Selma Gyroglou, Arsou Chalil Bourazan, George Stanulov,* 

*Spyridon Michalopoulos, John Tsirkas, Irene Babageogaka,* 

*Stefanos Zervoudis, Georgios Iatrakis, Georgios Galazios* 

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs is a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism (PE) in about 15–24% of cases. If it is not diagnosed/ treated timely, nearly 15% of these PE are lethal. The relationship between travel and staying in the same position for a long time is well-known since World War II. Generally, it is more frequent in air flights. It is also associated with the economic downturn in airplanes because passengers have limited space and have greater difficulty of moving. It is estimated that approximately 1–6% of long-haul passengers arrive at their destination with a clot in their veins, but most DVT are asymptomatic.

The real incidence of deep vein thrombosis is not fully known, due to the fact that the studies were depended only on clinical data (the majority of the reported cases had no clinical signs) without confirmation by laboratory and ultrasound findings. A further reason is that the referred studies investigated either DVT or PE and rarely both of the diseases [1, 2]. D-dimers have prognostic value only in 50% of cases of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism [3, 4]. Most of the published studies indicate that there is an increased risk of venous thrombosis when the travel duration is more than 4 h [3, 4]. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious health issue involving at least half a million Americans each year, and at least 1 in 10 will die suddenly. It depends on the mode of travel either by air flight company or car, bus, and train based fully on all travel-related risks of thrombosis. It is estimated that the risk of such an episode occurring during a long travel is 3–5%, with no reliable international accurate data [5–8]. The reason for the increased risk

*Panagiotis Tsikouras, Xanthoula Anthoulaki,* 

*Fotini Gaitatzi, Eleftherios Chatzimichael,* 

*Werner Rath, Georg-Friedrich Von Tempelhoff,* 

**Chapter 9**
