A Retrospective Study of Post-Travel Asthma Worsening in a UAE Cohort (2021–2024)

Background: International travel exposes patients to environmental changes, including humidity, air pollution, and allergens that may precipitate asthma exacerbations. Post-travel outcomes in Gulf populations remain poorly defined. Objective: To assess asthma worsening and treatment escalation following international travel among UAE-based patients, and to evaluate variation by destination. Methodology: In this retrospective study, 485 patients with established asthma who traveled internationally between January 2022 and June 2025 were included. Eligible patients had a clinic visit within three months post-travel with documented symptoms or treatment changes. Worsening was defined within four weeks of return as treatment escalation (inhaled/systemic corticosteroids or bronchodilators), unplanned healthcare visits, emergency department visit, or clinician-documented exacerbation. Analyses were performed using RStudio. Results: Mean age was 41.5 ± 13.2 years; 50.3% were female. Among 136 patients (28.0%) with complete treatment data, 86.0% experienced deterioration. Treatment escalation included bronchodilators (66.7%), ICS (50.7%), and systemic steroids (33.1%). Worsening was highest among travelers to Southeast Asia (up to 100% in a subgroup) and lowest in Western Europe (28.6–32.3%). No significant differences were observed between South Asia and other regions (p = 0.23). Age, sex, and smoking were not associated with risk. Conclusion: Asthma worsens after travel is frequent, particularly following exposure to humid or polluted environments. Targeted pre-travel counseling and post-travel follow-up may reduce morbidity. Prospective studies with objective measures are needed.