Research: DVT and Air Travel

The connection between DVT and air travel has gotten a fair amount of attention, but the major airlines have been loath to acknowledge it (and so reluctant even to advise passengers how best to minimize their risk).

A new research study from Holland may finally force the airlines to acknowledge what many say the anecdotal evidence has long shown: that air quality on planes greatly increases the risk of a travel-related thrombosis.

The study tracked a key clotting protein level in the blood after an eight hour flight, then two weeks later after an eight hour movie marathon, then after eight hours of regular activity in the third component of the experiment.

The results showed dramatic (astonishing, really) increases in the clotting factor after the eight hour flight -- and small decreases after the movie marathon and normal activity periods.

For more information:

Study: Cabin Air Quality Leads to Clotting Risk