[Effect of cardiovascular disorders on traffic fitness]

The large number of cardiovascular diseases affecting in particular the elderly represents a potential traffic hazard. MAJOR Points discussed: The significance of various cardiovascular diseases on a person's fitness to drive is presented with particular attention being paid to coronary heart disease. Our present knowledge about cardiovascular disease as a cause of accidents is extremely modest, and expert recommendations are often unrealistic and impractical. The risk of a disease leading to unfitness to drive decreases with increasing quality of medical management and treatment. The particular responsibility of the physician is, however, instruction and counselling, and especially the choice of proper treatment.

In view of a deterioration in critical faculties and in the ability to compensate for loss of performance, due in particular to the multimorbidity commonly met with in old age, a general examination of the geriatric for fitness to drive is worth considering.