What is “Economy Class Syndrome”?
“Economy Class Syndrome” and “Travelers DVT” are names first used by the media in the 1980’s to describe VTE in long-haul airline passengers. As described above, VTE is a serious medical condition that can occur in anyone. It is not confined to Economy Class air travelers. It can just as easily occur in First Class airline passengers; or in those traveling by car, train, boat, etc. The mechanism for VTE in travelers is probably due to a combination of immobilization, dehydration, and possible underlying factors. It has been estimated that 3-5% of all air travelers develop DVT, most of which are clinically silent.
