Stroke while driving: Frequency and association with automobile accidents

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Transportation Safety

Background:

• Cardiovascular events during driving are known, but stroke while driving is less studied.
• Understanding the incidence and consequences of stroke while driving is crucial for public safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of stroke occurring in patients while they were driving.
• To assess the association between stroke while driving and subsequent automobile accidents.

Main Methods:

• A prospective review of clinical data from 2145 stroke patients (January 2011-December 2016).
• Identification of patients who experienced stroke while driving, categorizing by stroke type (ischemic, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage).
• Analysis of driving ratios, patient responses to stroke, and occurrence of automobile accidents.

Main Results:

• 85 out of 2145 patients (4.0%) had a stroke while driving.
• Ischemic stroke had a higher driving ratio (4.8%) compared to intracerebral hemorrhage (3.4%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.8%).
• 16% of drivers involved in a stroke while driving were involved in automobile accidents, primarily due to altered mental status.

Conclusions:

• Stroke while driving is a significant concern, occurring in 4.0% of stroke cases.
• Automobile accidents are a notable consequence, happening in 16% of strokes that occur during driving.
• Altered mental status is a key factor contributing to accidents in drivers experiencing stroke.