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Heart failure - chronic - Management
Basis for recommendation

  • These recommendations are based on published expert opinion from the Working Group of the British Cardiovascular Society, Fitness to fly for passengers with cardiovascular disease [Smith et al, 2010].
  • Commercial airline passengers breathe air with a reduced oxygen content that results in low blood oxygen saturations, which may be expected to have adverse effects on people with heart failure. There is little evidence regarding the effects of hypoxia in people with heart failure. The Working Group of the British Cardiovascular Society found evidence from three small trials that [Smith et al, 2010]:
    • In people with stable heart failure, including New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV, short-term (up to 1 hour) hypoxia at rest produces no significant adverse effects.
    • People with mild to moderate stable heart failure (NYHA class II) can tolerate up to 7 hours of hypoxia at rest.
  • The Working Group of the British Cardiovascular Society did not find evidence that in-flight oxygen prevents adverse effects in people with heart failure. However, the Working Group recommended that access to in-flight oxygen should be available for passengers who have severe heart failure (NYHA class IV). They also state that availability of in-flight oxygen should be considered for people with NYHA class III.

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