No cabin pressure-DVT link, says British study

The common belief that the pressurized atmosphere in the cabin of a long-haul flight will lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been rejected by a group of British scientists.

Researchers from universities in Leicester and Aberdeen have carried out tests in hypobaria chambers with healthy volunteers, designed to simulate an eight-hour flight, to see if their risk of contracting DVT is increased.

Dr William Toff from the University of Leicester said: "Our study provides, for the first time, a controlled assessment of the effects on blood clotting of the low air pressure and low oxygen level that might be found during a long-haul flight.

"We found no evidence that these conditions cause activation of the blood clotting mechanism."

Dr Toff added that although the cabin conditions unique to flying had no link to DVT, the act of sitting still for several hours had already been proven to increase the risk.

He urged passengers on long-haul flights to do regular leg exercises and get up and walk around the cabin "when conveniently possible".

The Department for Transport in the UK has published the full report online.

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