Citation

Lefkowitz RY, Slade MD, Redlich CA. Int. Marit. Health 2015; 66(2): 61-66.

Affiliation

Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, New Haven, CT, United States Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States. rafael.lefkowitz@yale.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Maritime Health Association, Publisher Via Medica)

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2015.0016

PMID

26119673

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Repatriation represents a serious outcome of illness or injury among seafarers at sea. The aim of this study was to describe repatriation patterns due to injury and illness in a seafarer cohort, and determine risk factors for repatriation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analysed a telemedicine database of 3,921 seafarer injury and illness cases over a 4 year period using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

RESULTS: There were 61 repatriations over the study period (1.6% of cases). Most repatriations were due to illness (38; 62.3%) as opposed to injury (23; 37.7%). Back injuries and gastrointestinal illness were the most frequent causes of repatriations. Using logistic regression, nationality was identified as a significant risk factor for repatriation.

CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes illness as a major cause of seafarer repatriation, and suggests opportunities for future studies to identify potentially modifiable risk factors.

Language: en