Assessment of fitness to drive and cardiovascular diseases at the Spanish medical traffic centres.

BACKGROUND There is an increased risk of automobile accidents in patients with some cardiovascular disorders and licensing authorities have imposed certain restrictions on such persons. Experience assessing fitness to drive among drivers with cardiovascular disorders, and the relevance of other associated medical conditions among drivers assessed as unfit, are reported here. METHODS AND RESULTS The study included 5,234 drivers attending 2 Spanish Medical Driver Test Centres to assess their fitness to drive. Information regarding sociodemographic aspects, driving patterns, medical conditions, medication use and alcohol consumption patterns was recorded: 11.6% of the drivers had a cardiovascular disorder that potentially impaired fitness to drive, 82.5% were found fit to drive, 15.9% were fit to drive with restrictions and 1.6% were unfit. The 10 unfit patients with cardiovascular disorders were primarily considered unfit because of their associated ophthalmologic and medical comorbidities, but the cardiovascular disorders were a contributing factor. CONCLUSION Most (98.4%) drivers with cardiovascular disorders will be completely fit to drive or fit to drive with restrictions. There is a need for a personalized evaluation of fitness to drive for each driver/patient, taking into account such aspects as the associated pathology, the taking of medicinal drugs and alcohol consumption.