Driving after a stroke.
Four hundred and thirty-eight stroke patients from a community register covering a period of 28 months were interviewed at one year post-stroke. Of 144 (34%) living at home who had been driving prior to their stroke, 82 (58%) did not resume post-stroke. Assessments of arm function, walking, functional ability and IQ showed ex-drivers to be significantly more disabled than drivers. Stopping driving was associated with a loss of social activities and with a higher frequency of depression amongst ex-drivers when compared with drivers. This was despite 79% of ex-drivers having easy access to alternative car transport. Extending mobility allowance to the 49 (60%) ex-drivers over 65 years old at the time of their stroke might ease their situation. More appropriate assessments would be needed to establish whether ex-drivers would benefit from retraining or car adaptations to enable them to return to driving.
Legh-Smith
J
J
Wade
D T
DT
Hewer
R L
RL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans