Airlines urged to issue health warnings

LONDON, England -- Airlines have been told they should issue health warnings with their tickets to inform passengers of the dangers of a potentially fatal condition which could strike during flights.

The recommendation from a British parliamentary committee comes amid growing concerns over deep vein thrombosis (DVT), also known as "economy class syndrome", after a woman died from the condition after a long haul flight.

The 28-year-old Briton, Emma Christofferson, died minutes after arriving in London from Australia.

The report by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee says the health of passengers has been "woefully neglected", and is calling for a range of measures to address the issue.

It also wants to see urgent research into DVT, citing a "current paucity" of data about a possible link between the condition and air travel.

DVT is characterised by the formation of blood clots, mainly in the veins in the legs, and the risk is thought to be increased by long-haul travel in cramped seating conditions.

But the parliamentary report says the term "economy class syndrome" is misleading, and that DVT can affect all passengers equally.

The report details a number of cases where air travel is thought to have contributed to the illness, including instances where cabin crew failed to recognise serious DVT-related problems among passengers.

In one case a British woman was diagnosed as having "life-threatening deep vein thrombosis" shortly after she developed swollen calves on a British Airways (BA) flight from Kuala Lumpur to London.

Cabin crew declined to seek further medical advice, but BA has rejected allegations of negligence.

The report says airlines should consider giving passengers more leg room, and reduce the amount of alcohol served on flights.

It also calls on the Civil Aviation Authority to lay down an "unambiguous set of definitions for seat dimensions."

But some scientists have dismissed suggestions of a link between air travel and deep vein thrombosis.

A recent study by researchers at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands found that flying posed no risk factor for thrombosis.

In addition, some critics say the cost of implementing the recommendations in the parliamentary report would create unfair competition between British and foreign airlines.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Snacking, moving can decrease risk of flight-related blood clots
November 21, 2000
Long flights don't increase blood clot risk, study says
October 27, 2000

House of Lords Select Committee Report on Air Travel and Health
Aviation Health Institute
University of Amsterdam
Medical Advice for Air Passengers
Health Resource for Travellers

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