Blood clot study to go further

A study investigating the link between air travel and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is to be extended.

Research team head Dr Rodney Hughes said yesterday that the study had questioned several widely held myths about DVT and had established that blood clots could occur even in fit, young and healthy people who travelled.

Dr Hughes said researchers believed the term "economy class syndrome" should no longer be used as it gave travellers false reassurance.

He said several people in the study had developed blood clots while travelling business class.

"In addition, many people in the study took aspirin in the belief this would protect them from this problem, which it clearly does not."

People from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch who had developed a blood clot soon after air travel were invited to discuss their experience and undergo further testing.

- NZPA

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