Self-reported health conditions and related driving reduction in older drivers

Abstract

We surveyed self-reported lifetime health conditions (using National Health and Aging Trends Study questions) and related driving reduction in a large multi-site older driver cohort (n = 2,990) from the AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) Study’s baseline assessment. Those reporting reduced driving (n = 337) largely attributed reduction to musculoskeletal (29%), neurologic (13%), and ophthalmologic (10%) conditions. Women reported health condition-related driving reduction more often than men (14% versus 8%, p<.001). Mobility affects well-being; health professionals should consider that health conditions may cause older adults to reduce driving. Gender differences deserve attention in future research and education efforts.

Driving Ability and Safety in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review

“…We found a prevalence of self‐reported difficulty driving, inability to drive, and use of driving adaptations in the context of RA. Yet, driving is rarely assessed during routine clinical evaluations (33). Reports on whether RA is associated with an increase in MVCs have been conflicting and do not adequately account for confounding factors, suggesting that this important question warrants further investigation.…”

“…This review addresses the latest views on any relationship between RA and driving ability, but we recognize that it is 1 of many chronic conditions that may affect driving. In a recent cross‐sectional study in the US in which 2,990 participants age ≥65 years received questions about their reduction in driving over the past 12 months, the highest proportion of patients with musculoskeletal conditions (4.2% of these patients) had a decrease in driving compared to other systemic illness categories (33). Within the musculoskeletal category, the most common conditions that reduced driving were joint pain or joint swelling, knee or hip replacements, hip or forearm fractures, osteoporosis, and RA (33).…”

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use and Hard Braking Events in Older Drivers

“…Nevertheless, multiple chronic medical conditions (e.g., arthritis and cardiovascular disease) and polypharmacy use are prevalent in older drivers. Over 90% of the LongROAD study participants at baseline had two or more chronic medical conditions (with a median of 5 chronic medical conditions) and were on two or more medications (with a median of 7 medications) [ 20 , 32 ]. Of the medications used by older drivers, PIMs are of particular concern because the majority (about 58%) of them are psychoactive drugs, such as benzodiazepines, opioids, antidepressants, and first-generation antihistamines [ 7 ], which are known to be associated with increased risks of crash involvement and culpability [ 1 , 11 , 12 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Although many studies have examined the association of chronic medical conditions with crash risk, it remains a challenge to tease out the effect of specific medications from the effect of specific medical conditions. Given that the prevalence of multiple chronic medical conditions and polypharmacy use in the older driver population is over 90% [ 20 , 32 ], it is sensible to prioritize research using composite measures of comorbidities and medications, such as the Charlson Comorbidity Index score [ 37 ], PIMs [ 6 ], and Drug Burden Index [ 38 ], over studies of individual disease and medication in relation to driving safety in older adults.…”

The influence of spouses and their driving roles in self-regulation: A qualitative exploration of driving reduction and cessation practices amongst married older adults

“…This suggests that future programs and interventions may need to consider the diversity of living arrangements as shaped by the presence of spouses, their roles, and contributions in driving transition and cessation planning, and the subsequent impact on driving decisions and outcomes. Given that driving ability is often linked to safety and mobility which affects wellbeing of the older populations [26,27], further research in this area is clearly warranted to better address this issue in the future.…”