Economy class syndrome

Economy Class Syndrome
Sunday 10 June 2001

Just over eight months ago a bride-to-be from Newport in South Wales collapsed and died from a blood clot moments after walking off a long haul flight from Melbourne, Australia.

Emma Christoffersen was diagnosed as having suffered a pulmonary embolus brought on by the immobility associated with long haul travel or flight-related Deep Vein Thrombosis.

The airlines argue that this condition is rare and certainly not exclusive to air travel. But the leading vascular surgeon, John Scurr, recently announced to the medical world that roughly one in 10 air passengers probably develop blood clots while flying long haul.

Reporter Andy Davies investigates how the issue of DVT has been handled by the aviation industry.

Live webcast

Is the Aviation industry taking the threat of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) seriously? Roger Wiltshire from the British Air Transport Association answered your questions.

See also:

Airlines 'knew blood clot risk'

Airlines shun DVT researchers

Deep Vein Thrombosis Q&A

Internet Links:

John Scurr

The site includes a summary of John Scurr's paper on flight-related DVT.

Aviation Health Institute

The AHI advises anyone who flies, particularly long haul and frequent flyers. They carry out medical research, promote awareness and prevention of relevant health issues and help increase the productivity of frequent fliers.

British Vascular Foundation

The foundation is a registered charity, which produces a free factsheet on Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Medi UK Online

Medi UK manufacture Mediven Travel Stockings which were recommended in John Scurr's study on DVT that was published in the Lancet in May 2001.

Scholl Flight Socks

Scholl Flight Socks use a Clinically Proven Graduated Compression System to improve blood flow and help relieve leg discomfort, and are approved by the Aviation Health Institute.

Economy Class Syndrome

An American manufacturer of 'compression hosiery' (support stockings), the site also features an archive of news articles and health tips.

MASTA

This organisation aims to help anyone who is interested in travel health issues, in particular the individual traveller who wants to know how to minimise the risks to his or her health.

Production Team:
Reporter Andy Davies
Producer John O'Kane
Assistant Producers Tamsen Courtenay & Rachel Morgan