Challenges and risks for older travellers with multimorbidity

Abstract

The number of older travellers continues to increase internationally. Consequently, physicians are frequently confronted with situations relating to travelling of older people with multiple chronic morbidities and taking multiple medications. The risk of travel-related diseases is more than 2-fold in people with underlying medical conditions in comparison to healthy travellers. Although many guidelines on travelling with a particular chronic disease exist so far, it can be a challenge to tailor these considerations to an individual with multimorbidity. It is important that the health needs and potential vulnerability of the older traveller are recognized by physicians and patients alike. Educating patients on this topic could provide a significant benefit – helping them to enjoy their travel by being well prepared.