Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study
Abstract Background Hypertension is a common and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death among the general population and travelers. Data on hypertension among travelers are very limited due to the scarcity of research reports in this specific population....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00199-5 |
| _version_ | 1797578053247827968 |
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| author | Watsapol Gultawatvichai Wasin Matsee Phimphan Pisutsan Teera Kusolsuk Udomsak Silachamroon Chayasin Mansanguan Saranath Lawpoolsri Gerard T. Flaherty Watcharapong Piyaphanee |
| author_facet | Watsapol Gultawatvichai Wasin Matsee Phimphan Pisutsan Teera Kusolsuk Udomsak Silachamroon Chayasin Mansanguan Saranath Lawpoolsri Gerard T. Flaherty Watcharapong Piyaphanee |
| author_sort | Watsapol Gultawatvichai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hypertension is a common and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death among the general population and travelers. Data on hypertension among travelers are very limited due to the scarcity of research reports in this specific population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension among adult travelers and the stability of blood pressure control during international trips using a mobile automated blood pressure device. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the Thai travel clinic, Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Bangkok, Thailand. All adult travelers completed a questionnaire which included demographic data, medical history, medication use, trip characteristics and hypertension awareness and knowledge. Standard two time blood pressure measurements were performed at the clinic to detect possible undiagnosed hypertension. Travelers with pre-existing hypertension were also invited to monitor their blood pressure level before and during their trip for a total of 14 days by using an automated blood pressure device and reporting the readings back to the study team. Result During July and October 2022, a total of 1,359 adult travelers visited the Thai Travel Clinic before their international trip. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 28.8%, including those with pre-existing hypertension (6.7%) and those with newly diagnosed hypertension (22.2%). Travelers with newly diagnosed hypertension were significantly younger than travelers with pre-existing hypertension (38.5 years vs. 55.6 years, p < 0.001). Eleven travelers agreed to monitor their blood pressure, Most (90.9%, 10/11) had stable blood pressure control during their trip. One participant had > 10 mmHg higher blood pressure during the trip, however this was not clinically significant. All participants remained well, and acute symptoms secondary to hypertension were not reported. Conclusion Up to 28.8% of adult travelers seen in pre-travel consultations had hypertension. Most of them were unaware of their blood pressure condition. Vital signs including blood pressure should be evaluated in all pre-travel visits in order to prevent undiagnosed severe hypertension that might lead to hypertensive crisis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:17:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5d15a7ed8c34c0891db12cd075aa0a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-0936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:17:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5d15a7ed8c34c0891db12cd075aa0a62023-11-19T12:24:36ZengBMCTropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines2055-09362023-09-01911910.1186/s40794-023-00199-5Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort studyWatsapol Gultawatvichai0Wasin Matsee1Phimphan Pisutsan2Teera Kusolsuk3Udomsak Silachamroon4Chayasin Mansanguan5Saranath Lawpoolsri6Gerard T. Flaherty7Watcharapong Piyaphanee8Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityAbstract Background Hypertension is a common and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death among the general population and travelers. Data on hypertension among travelers are very limited due to the scarcity of research reports in this specific population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension among adult travelers and the stability of blood pressure control during international trips using a mobile automated blood pressure device. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the Thai travel clinic, Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Bangkok, Thailand. All adult travelers completed a questionnaire which included demographic data, medical history, medication use, trip characteristics and hypertension awareness and knowledge. Standard two time blood pressure measurements were performed at the clinic to detect possible undiagnosed hypertension. Travelers with pre-existing hypertension were also invited to monitor their blood pressure level before and during their trip for a total of 14 days by using an automated blood pressure device and reporting the readings back to the study team. Result During July and October 2022, a total of 1,359 adult travelers visited the Thai Travel Clinic before their international trip. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 28.8%, including those with pre-existing hypertension (6.7%) and those with newly diagnosed hypertension (22.2%). Travelers with newly diagnosed hypertension were significantly younger than travelers with pre-existing hypertension (38.5 years vs. 55.6 years, p < 0.001). Eleven travelers agreed to monitor their blood pressure, Most (90.9%, 10/11) had stable blood pressure control during their trip. One participant had > 10 mmHg higher blood pressure during the trip, however this was not clinically significant. All participants remained well, and acute symptoms secondary to hypertension were not reported. Conclusion Up to 28.8% of adult travelers seen in pre-travel consultations had hypertension. Most of them were unaware of their blood pressure condition. Vital signs including blood pressure should be evaluated in all pre-travel visits in order to prevent undiagnosed severe hypertension that might lead to hypertensive crisis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00199-5Non-communicable diseasesPrevalenceHypertensionTravelersBlood pressureStability |
| spellingShingle | Watsapol Gultawatvichai Wasin Matsee Phimphan Pisutsan Teera Kusolsuk Udomsak Silachamroon Chayasin Mansanguan Saranath Lawpoolsri Gerard T. Flaherty Watcharapong Piyaphanee Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines Non-communicable diseases Prevalence Hypertension Travelers Blood pressure Stability |
| title | Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel a cross sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study |
| topic | Non-communicable diseases Prevalence Hypertension Travelers Blood pressure Stability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00199-5 |
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