Introduction: Religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, or Hajj, is a basic tenet of the Islamic doctrine and, after Ramadan, annually represents the largest human concentration (with up to 5% of from the EU) around the world. Such a gathering entails health risks. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted of a cohort of pilgrims attended for pre-travel preventive activities in the North Metropolitan International Health Unit (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain) from 2009-2010. Results: A total of 193 pilgrims were assessed and 135 (69.9%) were men. Their mean age (SD) was 37.1 (16.9) years. Among the pilgrims, 176 (91.2%) were immigrants, mainly from Pakistan (54.9%), Morocco (29%), Bangladesh (4.1%) or other countries (7.2%). The pilgrims stayed in Saudi Arabia a mean (SD) of 16.3 (9.2) days. Eighty (41.5%) opted for the 1 month-long pilgrimage (Hajj) and 113 (58.5%) for the shorter Umra. One or more pathological antecedent was recorded in 29 (15%). Vaccination coverage was >75% for tetanus-diphtheria, pneumococcal and quadrivalent meningitis but was only 70.4% for influenza. After returning, 41 (13.5%) pilgrims reported some health problem; of these, 61% were respiratory tract symptoms. The risk factors independently correlated with the presence of diseases was the number of days in Saudi Arabia (OR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.11) and taking part in the Hajj compared with the Umra (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.07-1.12). Conclusions: Religious pilgrims from Spain to Saudi Arabia are mainly young and healthy. Those with longer stays abroad contracted a higher number of diseases.

Introducción: La peregrinación religiosa a Arabia Saudí o Hajj es un precepto básico en la doctrina islámica. Anualmente millones de peregrinos (un 5% procedente de la Unión Europea) se concentran en La Meca después del Ramadán, con los riesgos sanitarios que eso conlleva. Métodos: Estudio observacional y prospectivo de una cohorte de peregrinos atendidos en visita de actividades preventivas predesplazamiento en la Unidad de Salud Internacional Metropolitana Norte (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, España) durante 2009-2010. Resultados: Se valoraron 193 peregrinos (135 hombres, 69,9%), con una edad media (DE) de 37,1 (16,9) años. Eran inmigrantes 176 (91,2%), originarios de Pakistán (54,9%), Marruecos (29%), Bangladesh (4,1%) y otros (7,2%). Se desplazaban a Arabia Saudí por una media (DE) de 16,3 (9,2) días; optaban por la peregrinación larga (Hajj) 80 (41,5%) y por la corta (Umra) 113 (58,5%). Presentaban antecedentes patológicos 29 (15%). Se obtuvo una cobertura vacunal superior al 75% para tétanos-difteria, antineumocócica y antimeningocócica tetravalente, y sólo de un 70,4% para la antigripal. Presentaron algún problema de salud 41 (13,5%), el 61% de ellos síntomas de vías respiratorias. Los factores de riesgo independientemente relacionados con presentar enfermedades fueron los días de estancia (odds ratio [OR]=1,06; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 1,01-1,11) y realizar el Hajj frente a la Umra (OR=1,08; IC95%: 1,07-1,12). Conclusiones: Los peregrinos a Arabia Saudí procedentes de España son un colectivo fundamentalmente joven y sano. Presentaron un mayor número de enfermedades aquellos con estancias más largas.

Introduction: Religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, or Hajj, is a basic tenet of the Islamic doctrine and, after Ramadan, annually represents the largest human concentration (with up to 5% of from the EU) around the world. Such a gathering entails health risks. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted of a cohort of pilgrims attended for pre-travel preventive activities in the North Metropolitan International Health Unit (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain) from 2009-2010. Results: A total of 193 pilgrims were assessed and 135 (69.9%) were men. Their mean age (SD) was 37.1 (16.9) years. Among the pilgrims, 176 (91.2%) were immigrants, mainly from Pakistan (54.9%), Morocco (29%), Bangladesh (4.1%) or other countries (7.2%). The pilgrims stayed in Saudi Arabia a mean (SD) of 16.3 (9.2) days. Eighty (41.5%) opted for the 1 month-long pilgrimage (Hajj) and 113 (58.5%) for the shorter Umra. One or more pathological antecedent was recorded in 29 (15%). Vaccination coverage was >75% for tetanus-diphtheria, pneumococcal and quadrivalent meningitis but was only 70.4% for influenza. After returning, 41 (13.5%) pilgrims reported some health problem; of these, 61% were respiratory tract symptoms. The risk factors independently correlated with the presence of diseases was the number of days in Saudi Arabia (OR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.11) and taking part in the Hajj compared with the Umra (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.07-1.12). Conclusions: Religious pilgrims from Spain to Saudi Arabia are mainly young and healthy. Those with longer stays abroad contracted a higher number of diseases.

Introducción: La peregrinación religiosa a Arabia Saudí o Hajj es un precepto básico en la doctrina islámica. Anualmente millones de peregrinos (un 5% procedente de la Unión Europea) se concentran en La Meca después del Ramadán, con los riesgos sanitarios que eso conlleva. Métodos: Estudio observacional y prospectivo de una cohorte de peregrinos atendidos en visita de actividades preventivas predesplazamiento en la Unidad de Salud Internacional Metropolitana Norte (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, España) durante 2009-2010. Resultados: Se valoraron 193 peregrinos (135 hombres, 69,9%), con una edad media (DE) de 37,1 (16,9) años. Eran inmigrantes 176 (91,2%), originarios de Pakistán (54,9%), Marruecos (29%), Bangladesh (4,1%) y otros (7,2%). Se desplazaban a Arabia Saudí por una media (DE) de 16,3 (9,2) días; optaban por la peregrinación larga (Hajj) 80 (41,5%) y por la corta (Umra) 113 (58,5%). Presentaban antecedentes patológicos 29 (15%). Se obtuvo una cobertura vacunal superior al 75% para tétanos-difteria, antineumocócica y antimeningocócica tetravalente, y sólo de un 70,4% para la antigripal. Presentaron algún problema de salud 41 (13,5%), el 61% de ellos síntomas de vías respiratorias. Los factores de riesgo independientemente relacionados con presentar enfermedades fueron los días de estancia (odds ratio [OR]=1,06; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 1,01-1,11) y realizar el Hajj frente a la Umra (OR=1,08; IC95%: 1,07-1,12). Conclusiones: Los peregrinos a Arabia Saudí procedentes de España son un colectivo fundamentalmente joven y sano. Presentaron un mayor número de enfermedades aquellos con estancias más largas.