A new study has claimed that travelling is not advisable to dialysis patients as it can lead to infections, anaemia, and other complications, which can impede their treatment.
The conclusion, that vacation may turn hazardous to dialysis patients, was reached after assessing the health information collected on patients, who travelled during April 2008 to March 2009.
The patients were 69 in total and came from diverse ethnic background who travelled to Europe, the Middle East, India, the United States, Africa, the Pacific Rim, and South Asia. It was noted that one patient died during travel while two damaged or lost their fistulas or grafts (surgically created sites that provide dialysis tubes access to the blood). Also, seven patients required blood transfusions soon after their return, and several acquired blood stream infections. The researchers observed that travel among dialysis patients is associated with significantly increased infection rates, loss of vascular access, and anaemia.
Nurse Claire Edwards from RGN, who was part of the team that did the research, said: "Many patients wish to travel freely around the world. This study empowers patients with information in order for them to make choices about their lifestyle."
However, the limitations of the study marked by the lack of accurate details of treatment received by patients, including treatment duration, blood loss, infection, antibiotic starts, etc while patients were on vacation was not always clear.
