Ulla S Nielsen1, Søren Jensen-Fangel1, Gitte Pedersen2, Nicolai Lohse3, Court Pedersen4, Gitte Kronborg5, Niels Obel6, Carsten S Larsen7. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. 2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. 3. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. 4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. 5. Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. 6. Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. 7. Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: carslars@rm.dk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe travel patterns, extent of professional pre-travel advice and health problems encountered during travel among HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: During a six-month period a questionnaire was handed out to 2821 adult HIV-infected individuals attending any of the eight Danish medical HIV care centers. RESULTS: A total of 763 individuals responded. During the previous two years 49% had travelled outside Europe; 18% had travelled less and 30% were more cautious when choosing travel destination than before the HIV diagnosis. Pre-travel advice was sought by only 38%, and travel insurance was taken out by 86%. However, 29%/74% did not inform the advisor/the insurance company about their HIV status. Nearly all patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were adherent, but 58% worried about carrying HIV-medicine and 19% tried to hide it. Only 19% experienced health problems during travel, 6% sought medical assistance and 0.5% was hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: Danish HIV-infected patients travel frequently outside Denmark. Health and adherence to HAART were not major problems during travel. The main problems were failure to seek pre-travel advice, lack of disclosure of HIV status when seeking pre-travel advice or getting a travel insurance.
BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe travel patterns, extent of professional pre-travel advice and health problems encountered during travel among HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: During a six-month period a questionnaire was handed out to 2821 adult HIV-infected individuals attending any of the eight Danish medical HIV care centers. RESULTS: A total of 763 individuals responded. During the previous two years 49% had travelled outside Europe; 18% had travelled less and 30% were more cautious when choosing travel destination than before the HIV diagnosis. Pre-travel advice was sought by only 38%, and travel insurance was taken out by 86%. However, 29%/74% did not inform the advisor/the insurance company about their HIV status. Nearly all patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were adherent, but 58% worried about carrying HIV-medicine and 19% tried to hide it. Only 19% experienced health problems during travel, 6% sought medical assistance and 0.5% was hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: Danish HIV-infectedpatients travel frequently outside Denmark. Health and adherence to HAART were not major problems during travel. The main problems were failure to seek pre-travel advice, lack of disclosure of HIV status when seeking pre-travel advice or getting a travel insurance.