Document 0196
 DOCN  M9590196
 TI    Driving and the HIV associated dementia complex: the risk of motor
       vehicle accidents.
 DT    9509
 AU    Maruff P; Malone V; Tyler P; Wright E; Hoy J; Brew B; Currie J;
       Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:75 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291903
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of motor vehicle accidents among
       patients with HIV associated dementia complex (HDC) or HIV minor
       cognitive disorder (HMCD). METHODS: Patients were recruited through
       large metropolitan hospital impatient and outpatient departments. All
       patients completed a brief questionnaire which assessed driving habits
       and serious motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) in the previous two years.
       MVAs were classified as serious if they had been reported to the police
       or an insurance company or if there were personal injuries involved. For
       each subject, driving history was then correlated with current
       assessment of neurocognitive function carried out in the same session.
       RESULTS: The driving history of 82 ambulatory HIV+ subjects with CD4 <
       250 mm-3 who held a current drivers licence were assessed. Of these, 23
       had HMCD, 25 had probable HDC and the remaining 34 were neurologically
       intact with no signs of HIV related cognitive impairment (NI-HIV). There
       were no significant differences between subject groups for age,
       education or length of lifetime driving. No significant group
       differences were found for the number of MVAs (NI-HIV 4(11.8%), HMCD
       3(13.1%), HCD 2(8%), p > 0.05). One NI-HIV subject reported two serious
       MVAs and 1 HMCD subject reported a MVA with personal injury. However,
       there were significant differences between the subject groups in both
       the patterns of driving and the number of kilometres driven per week
       (NI-HIV 150 km, HMCD 53.2 km, HCD 7.2 km, p < 0.05). All of the NI-HIV
       and HMCD subjects were still driving but 12 of the HDC subjects had not
       driven in the last six months. Ten of these HDC subjects had voluntarily
       ceased driving, the other two ceased driving after MVAs. 23 of the HDC
       subjects and 14 of the HMCD subjects limited their driving to familiar
       places or places near home. CONCLUSION: Patients with HIV associated
       cognitive changes do not appear to have an increased risk for MVAs,
       possibly because of self directed limitation of driving.
 DE    Accidents, Traffic/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/PSYCHOLOGY  *Automobile Driver
       Examination  AIDS Dementia Complex/DIAGNOSIS/*PSYCHOLOGY  *Disability
       Evaluation  Human  Neuropsychological Tests  Risk Factors  Sick Role
       Victoria  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).