Prevalence of non-communicable diseases among travelers attending mass gathering: a systematic literature review
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Abstract
Public health efforts typically focus on preventing infectious diseases during large gatherings of people. However, the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that can cause illness and death is possible, particularly among international travelers. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of NCDs among travelers participating in mass gatherings. This was a systematic literature review conducted using the PRISMA guidelines, by searching data from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Observational studies reporting acute outbreaks of NCDs occurring during or associated with mass gatherings were selected, and data on event characteristics, study designs, and NCD prevalence were extracted. From a review of 2,439 research papers, 27 observational studies involving international travelers and reporting acute non-communicable conditions occurring during or associated with mass gatherings met the inclusion criteria. Most were religious, particularly the Hajj pilgrimage. Cardiovascular diseases were a leading cause of severe morbidity and mortality, accounting for 19.4–37.5% of hospitalizations and 31.0–65.5% of deaths. Other common conditions included heat-related illness (2.0–10.5%), metabolic and endocrine emergencies (7.3–9.5%), acute kidney (10.2%), and exacerbations of chronic respiratory diseases (15.0–18.0%). Overall mortality rates were low (0.0–0.1%) but were predominantly attributable to NCDs. The study indicated that NCDs represented a significant burden among travelers participating in mass gatherings and highlighting the importance of risk assessment, management of chronic illnesses, and pre-travel preparation to mitigated serious outcomes.
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บทความที่พิมพ์ในวารสารสถาบันป้องกันควบคุมโรคเขตเมือง ถือว่าเป็นผลงานวิชาการ งานวิจัยและวิเคราะห์ ตลอดจนเป็นความเห็นส่วนตัวของผู้เขียนเอง ไม่ใช่ความเห็นของสถาบันป้องกันควบคุมโรคเขตเมือง หรือคณะบรรณาธิการแต่ประการใด ผู้เขียนจำต้องรับผิดชอบต่อบทความของตน
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