Diseases and motor vehicle fatalities in Finland in 2001 and 2002.
OBJECTIVE
The possible connection between diseases among drivers and traffic accidents was examined for traffic safety purposes.


METHODS
We studied medical conditions of drivers and passengers in all motor vehicle crashes with fatalities in Finland in 2001 and 2002 by using reports of road accident investigation teams, including autopsy reports. We analyzed a total of 542 crashes with 640 fatalities. Findings were also compared with available epidemiological data in Finland.


RESULTS
An insignificant difference in the number of reported diseases was present between the different parties involved in crashes. However, among killed key drivers, so-called A-parties, psychiatric diseases, especially alcoholism, depression, and unspecific mental disorders, were diagnosed more often than in the groups of other drivers or passengers. In addition, A-parties were reported to more frequently suffer from cerebral arteriosclerosis and arterial hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Drivers' diseases can be a risk factor for traffic accidents. Fitness to drive should therefore be considered in medical practice, particularly in patients with alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders.
Rainio
Juha
J
Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. juha.rainio@uta.fi
Sulander
Pekka
P
Hantula
Lasse
L
Nuutinen
Juha
J
Karkola
Kari
K
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology