Fatal journeys: causes of death in international travellers in South America

Understanding mortality among travellers is essential for mitigating risks and enhancing travel safety. However, limited evidence exists on severe illnesses and injuries leading to death among travellers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and remote regions. We conducted a retrospecti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of travel medicine 2025-02, Vol.32 (1)
Main Authors: Allel, Kasim, Cabada, Miguel M, Kiani, Behzad, Martin, Beatris Mario, Tanabe, Melinda, Restrepo, Angela Cadavid, De Souza Dos Santos, Gabriela, Lloveras, Susana, Shiferaw, Wondimeneh, Sartorius, Benn, Mills, Deborah J, Lau, Colleen L, Furuya-Kanamori, Luis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cause of Death
Child
Communicable Diseases - epidemiology
Communicable Diseases - mortality
Editor's Choice
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Noncommunicable Diseases - mortality
Original
Retrospective Studies
South America - epidemiology
Travel - statistics & numerical data
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
Wounds and Injuries - mortality
Young Adult
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Summary:Understanding mortality among travellers is essential for mitigating risks and enhancing travel safety. However, limited evidence exists on severe illnesses and injuries leading to death among travellers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and remote regions. We conducted a retrospective census study using country-level observational data from death certificates of travellers of seven South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay) from 2017 to 2021. Causes of death were evaluated using ICD-10 codes, categorized into non-communicable diseases (NCDs), communicable diseases and injuries. We quantified causes of death by demographic characteristics (e.g. age, sex) and geographical variables. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between categories. We calculated crude mortality rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) per country's subregions. A total of 17 245 deaths were reported. NCDs (55%) were the most common cause of death, followed by communicable diseases (23.4%) and injuries (18.1%). NCD-associated deaths increased after age 55 years and were highest among ≥85 years. Communicable diseases were more common at younger age (
ISSN:1195-1982
1708-8305
1708-8305
DOI:10.1093/jtm/taae119