Frailty and poor physical functioning as risk factors for driving cessation

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Transportation Safety

Background:

• Frailty and diminished physical performance are modifiable factors in older adults.
• These factors are potential targets for interventions to delay driving cessation (DC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of frailty and physical performance on driving cessation in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A multisite prospective cohort study of 2,986 active drivers aged 65-79 years.
• Utilized the Fried Frailty Phenotype and the Expanded Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
• Driving cessation was assessed annually and analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models.

Main Results:

• Frailty was associated with a 6.1-fold increased hazard of driving cessation.
• Improved SPPB scores significantly reduced the hazard of driving cessation for both men and women.
• Specifically, fair SPPB scores reduced DC hazard by 74% in women and 45% in men compared to poor scores.

Conclusions:

• Frailty and poor physical functioning are significant risk factors for driving cessation.
• Interventions promoting physical activity may help older adults maintain driving independence and mobility.