Recommendations for travelling with bronchiectasis: a joint ELF/EMBARC/ERN-Lung collaboration

Abstract

IntroductionPeople with bronchiectasis frequently request specialist advice to prepare for travelling, but there are few publications providing advice on safe travel with bronchiectasis. There is a need for recommendations on adapting everyday treatment to the requirements during travelling.MethodsA panel of 13 patient volunteers formulated questions regarding different aspects of travelling, including safety of travel, maintaining regular treatment during travel, and dealing with deterioration while away. Patient input was used to derive a questionnaire and circulated among a panel of bronchiectasis experts. Where 80% or more experts agreed on a response, a recommendation was made.ResultsA total of 26 bronchiectasis experts answered the questionnaire. Recommendations were made on safety of travel, choice of destinations and activities, choice of travel insurance, carrying medications and devices, maintaining regular treatments in transport, documentation to be provided and oxygen requirements. Some statements did not reach an 80% agreement; in many cases these statements may be valid for some, but not all bronchiectasis patients.ConclusionsThe general agreement was that it is considered safe for most people with bronchiectasis to travel. Careful planning and preparation with robust communication between patients and their healthcare provider prior to travel for different scenarios is fundamental to a successful journey.

Impact of bronchiectasis on susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19: a nationwide cohort study

“…Accordingly, our study findings indicate that bronchiectasis patients should be more cautious about social activities or travel in areas where COVID-19 is prevalent. 11 Another notable finding is that COVID-19 patients with bronchiectasis suffered from more severe infection than those without bronchiectasis. In this study, COVID-19 patients with bronchiectasis exhibited a much higher rate of supplemental oxygen, ECMO, and higher mortality than those without bronchiectasis.…”

“…Accordingly, our study findings indicate that bronchiectasis patients should be more cautious about social activities or travel in areas where COVID-19 is prevalent. 11…”

Respiratory healthcare professionals’ views on long-term recommendations of interventions to prevent acute respiratory illnesses after the COVID-19 pandemic

“…These findings in patients and our findings in professionals are in contrast with pre-COVID-19 conventions. A summary of recommendations for travelling with bronchiectasis developed through a collaboration between patients and respiratory specialists did not support the use of a facemask during air travel due to inconvenience and concern of the associated stigma [ 18 ]. Our results and those of others suggest that physicians and patients have changed their views concerning this precaution, not only for the COVID-19 pandemic but thereafter.…”

What is important for people with nontuberculous mycobacterial disease? An EMBARC-ELF patient survey

“…One of the aspects of this collaboration involves working with patient volunteers, coordinated by the European Lung Foundation (ELF) to involve people with bronchiectasis in research and promotion of care (10). Some aspects of this collaboration resulted in documents focused on various aspects of care (11,12).…”