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jackD · 05-07-2012, 03:07 AM

Send out the Army to round them up!!!

jackD

Quote:

Neurology. 2001 Apr 24;56(8):1089-94.

The influence of cognitive impairment on driving performance in multiple sclerosis.

Schultheis MT, Garay E, DeLuca J.

Source Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA. mschultheis@kmrrec.org

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of impaired cognitive processing on measures of driving skills in persons with MS.

METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects with documented MS were divided into two groups-with [MS(+), n = 13] and without [MS(-), n = 15] cognitive impairment-based on neuropsychological performance. Healthy control (HC) subjects (n = 17) matched on age and driving experience were also studied. Driving-related skills were compared between the groups based on performance on two computerized driving tests: the Useful Field of Vision (UFOV) and the Neurocognitive Driving Test (NDT).

RESULTS: The MS(+) group performed significantly worse than both the MS(-) and HC groups in the latency to perform several driving-specific functions on the NDT, but no overall group differences were observed in actual errors on the NDT. On the UFOV, when compared to MS(-) and HC subjects, the MS(+) group demonstrated poorer performance on two of the three subtests. Additionally, a significantly higher percentage of MS(+) individuals were rated within the high risk (probability of crash involvement) category, relative to the MS(-) and HC groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment can negatively affect driving-related skills in persons with MS and should be considered in the determination of driving ability.

PMID:11320184[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Quote:

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Aug;83(8):1175-8.
Motor vehicle crashes and violations among drivers with multiple sclerosis.
Schultheis MT, Garay E, Millis SR, Deluca J.
SourceNeuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corp, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA. mschultheis@kmrrec.org

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in the incidence of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and violations among drivers with multiple sclerosis (MS) when cognitive impairment is present.

DESIGN: Archival evaluation of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records.

SETTING: Medical rehabilitation research organization.

PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling drivers, 27 subjects with documented MS (14 MS without cognitive impairment [MS-], 13 MS with cognitive impairment [MS+]) and 17 healthy control subjects, matched on age, sex, and driving experience.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of MVCs and motor vehicle violations as documented by DMV reports for the past 5 years.

RESULTS: MS+ subjects showed a higher incidence of MVCs when compared with control and MS- subjects. No significant difference in the incidence of motor vehicle violations was observed between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cognitive impairment in drivers with MS can result in an increased risk of MVC involvement.

Copyright 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

PMID:12161844[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Quote:

Ugeskr Laeger. 2002 Oct 28;164(44):5134-7.

[Increased frequency of traffic accidents among patients with disseminated sclerosis].
[Article in Danish]

Lings S.
SourceArbejds- og miljømedicinsk klinik, Odense Universitetshospital, DK-5000 Odense C. s.lings@ouh.fyns-amt.dk

INTRODUCTION: The influence of medical conditions on the ability to drive safely is a matter of concern to both physicians and society. Obviously, the symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) are of relevance when driving a car. Nevertheless this problem has never before been subject to scientific investigations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 10-year historical cohort register study on 197 patients with MS and 545 controls individually matched for age, gender, place of residence, and period of exposure. Persons with other neurological diseases, diabetes, or abuse were excluded. The outcome measure was treatment at an emergency department after an accident as a car driver.

RESULTS: Five patients and four controls had been treated. The rate per 1,000 person-years with exposure was 3.4 times higher (CI 0.73-17.15) in the patients than in the control cohort. The difference is significant in a one-sided test (p = 0.04).

DISCUSSION: This study showed that drivers with MS were more often treated at a casualty department after having a road traffic accident than healthy controls. In view of the small numbers, the results should be interpreted cautiously, and no drastic measures should be taken regarding patients' driving until the results have been further substantiated.

PMID:12448159[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Quote:

1Acta Neurol Scand. 2002 Mar;105(3):169-73.
Driving accident frequency increased in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Lings S.
SourceThe Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and The Accident Analysis Group, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. s.lings@ouh.fyns-amt.dk

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the ability to drive safely.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 10-year historical cohort register-study on 197 patients with MS and 545 controls individually matched on age, gender, place of residence, and exposure period. Persons with other neurological diseases, diabetes or abuse were excluded. The outcome measure was treatment at the emergency department after accident as a car driver.

RESULTS: Five patients and four controls had been treated, the rate per 1000 person-years with exposure being 3.4 times higher (CI 0.73-17.15) in the patients than in the control cohort. The difference is significant in one-sided test (P=0.04).

CONCLUSION: Drivers with MS were treated more often than healthy controls at a casualty department after having a road traffic accident. However, drastic consequences regarding the patients automobile driving should be avoided until these results have been substantiated by further investigations.

PMID:11886359[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]