Vavricka, Stephan R.; Rogler, Gerhard; Maetzler, Sandra; Misselwitz, Benjamin; Safroneeva, Ekaterina; Frei, Pascal; Manser, Christine N.; Biedermann, Luc; Fried, Michael; Higgins, Peter; Wojtal, Kacper A.; Schoepfer, Alain M. (2014). High altitude journeys and flights are associated with an increased risk of flares in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Journal of Crohns & Colitis, 8(3), pp. 191-9. Elsevier 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.07.011
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Hypoxia can induce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the impact of hypoxia on the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate whether flights and/or journeys to regions lying at an altitude of >2000m above the sea level are associated with flare-ups within 4weeks of the trip.
METHODS
IBD patients with at least one flare-up during a 12-month observation period were compared to a group of patients in remission. Both groups completed a questionnaire.
RESULTS
A total of 103 IBD patients were included (43 with Crohn's disease (CD): mean age 39.3±14.6years; 60 with ulcerative colitis (UC): mean age 40.4±15.1years). Fifty-two patients with flare-ups were matched to 51 patients in remission. IBD patients experiencing flare-ups had more frequently undertaken flights and/or journeys to regions >2000m above sea level within four weeks of the flare-up when compared to patients in remission (21/52 [40.4%] vs. 8/51 [15.7%], p=0.005).
CONCLUSIONS
Journeys to high altitude regions and/or flights are a risk factor for IBD flare-ups occurring within 4weeks of travel.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) |
UniBE Contributor: |
Safroneeva, Ekaterina |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services |
ISSN: |
1873-9946, 1876-4479 |
Publisher: |
Elsevier |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Doris Kopp Heim |
Date Deposited: |
25 Feb 2014 09:27 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 14:28 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1016/j.crohns.2013.07.011 |
PubMed ID: |
23953239 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Crohn's disease, Hypoxia, Hypoxic stress, Inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.41338 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/41338 |
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