1
|
Abazid RM, Ewid M, Sherif H, Smettei OA, Salim Khan A, Altorbag AA, Alharbi MF, Aljaber AN, Alharbi SM, Altorbak NA, Altorbak SA, Almeman A. Are cardiac patients in Saudi Arabia provided adequate instructions when they should not drive? Avicenna J Med 2019; 9:148-153. [PMID: 31903390 PMCID: PMC6796302 DOI: 10.4103/ajm.ajm_69_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Driving capability can be significantly affected by different heath disorders; cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) should be considered when assessing patients for medical fitness to drive (MFTD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of Saudi patients about driving recommendations and to assess the incidence of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) among cardiac patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey-based study. Male patients diagnosed with CVDs and who were visiting outpatient departments were invited to complete a questionnaire regarding their awareness of driving recommendations. Patients’ demographics, clinical diagnosis, echocardiography parameters, and time-to-CVD diagnosis were all obtained from the patients’ medical records. Women were excluded because it was illegal for women to drive in Saudi Arabia during the study period. Results: In total, 800 men were included, with a mean age of 54 ± 12 years. Driving counseling had been provided to 241 participants (30%). Of these, 207 (25%) were advised not to drive for a period of between one week and six months. Five percent of the patients had a history of MVAs during the follow-up period of 6.2 ± 4 years. We found that the presence of a dyspnea ≥2, according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA), and a history of loss of consciousness (syncope/pre-syncope) were significantly associated with accidents (46% vs. 20%, P < 0.0001 and 41% vs. 10%, P < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: Patient–physician discussion about MFTD was only performed with 30% of the patients with CVDs in Saudi Arabia. Dyspnea NYHA class ≥2 or a prior history of syncope were significantly associated with the incidence of MVAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rami M Abazid
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada, Department of Cardiac Imaging, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center Qassim PSCCQ, Buraydah, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Ewid
- Faculty of Medicine, Suliman Al Rajhi Colleges, Buraydah, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Hossam Sherif
- Faculty of Medicine, Suliman Al Rajhi Colleges, Buraydah, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia, Critical Care Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Osama A Smettei
- Department of Cardiac Imaging, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center Qassim PSCCQ, Buraydah, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul Salim Khan
- Department of Cardiology, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A Altorbag
- Department of medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad F Alharbi
- Department of medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman N Aljaber
- Department of medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suliman M Alharbi
- Department of medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nora A Altorbak
- Department of medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah A Altorbak
- Department of medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Almeman
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, El Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|