title: Air travel considerations for the patients with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence of patients with heart failure (HF) is increasing in worldwide, and also the number of people with HF traveling long distances is increasing. These patients are more prone to experience problems contributed air travel and needs more attention during flight. However, observational studies about problems of HF patients during flight and appropriated considerations for them are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the conditions that may be encountered in a HF patient and provide the recommendations to prevent the exacerbation of cardiac failure during air travel. For this review article, a comprehensive search was undertaken for the studies that evaluated the complications and considerations of HF patients during flight. Data bases searched were: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Direct, and Google Scholar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HF patients are more prone to experience respiratory distress, anxiety, stress, cardiac decompensation, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) during air travel. Although stable HF patients can tolerate air travel, but those with acute heart failure syndrome should not fly until complete improvement is achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, identifying the HF patients before the flight and providing them proper education about the events that may occur during flight is necessary.
authors: Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Morteza
authors: M
authors: Izadi
authors: Department of Cardiology, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Javad
authors: MJ
authors: Alemzadeh-Ansari
authors: Department of Cardiology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Davood
authors: D
authors: Kazemisaleh
authors: Department of Cardiology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Moshkani-Farahani
keywords: Aerospace Medicine; Heart Failure; Stress; Travel; Venous Thromboembolism