Travel health risks in adults over 60 years of age: insights from the +Redivi network in Spain

Résumé fourni par la source

BACKGROUND: The growing number of international travellers aged ≥60 years reflects global demographic changes and improved life expectancy. However, this group faces specific health risks due to age-related physiological changes and comorbidities, which may influence the presentation and management of travel-related illnesses. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of imported diseases amongst older travellers compared with younger adults in Spain. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the Spanish National Network (+Redivi). We analysed records of travellers who sought medical care after returning to Spain between January 2011 and December 2023 in six different centres. Demographic data, travel history and final diagnoses were compared between individuals aged ≥60 years and those <60 years. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using R software (v4.2.2). RESULTS: Amongst 29 573 total tourist travellers, 1230 (4.2%) involved individuals aged ≥60 years. In the traveller subgroup, 546 older and 7704 younger adults were compared. Older travellers more often undertook very short (<15 days, 46.3%) or prolonged (>360 days, 11.4%) trips and sought pre-travel advice less frequently (36.1%, P < 0.001). Sub-Saharan Africa and South America were the main regions of infection acquisition. Gastrointestinal disorders were the leading cause of consultation in all groups, but older adults more frequently presented with skin (22.2%) and respiratory (3.8%) symptoms. The most frequent diagnoses in the older cohort included Plasmodium falciparum malaria (4.8%), strongyloidiasis (3.3%) and chikungunya (3.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Older travellers represent a distinct and growing population within travel medicine, characterized by specific patterns of exposure and infection. These findings highlight the need for tailored pre-travel counselling and preventive strategies that consider comorbidities, vaccine limitations and extended travel durations to reduce morbidity in this vulnerable group.

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