| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: HIV-related neuropsychological impairment and automobile driving. | | Authors: Marcotte T, Heaton RK, Reicks C, Gonzalez R, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2000 | | Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society | | Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Pages: 233 | | Abstract:Although HIV infection often results in neuropsychological ( NP) dysfunction, little attention has been paid to the impact that this may have on an individual's ability to drive an automobile. One hundred forty-six HIV1 participants completed assessments on an NP battery and computer-based driving simulator, and provided a detailed driving history. Twenty-nine percent of the participants reported a decline in driving skills since becoming infected with HIV. Based upon blind clinical ratings of the NP battery, 55 were classified as NP impaired (most in the mild range). After adjusting for relevant factors (e.g., employment, stage of illness), NP impaired individuals were much more likely to have not driven in the last year (OR = 2.9, p = .02). Among those who had recently driven, NP impaired participants (N = 30) were more likely to have had a moving violation in the past year than well-matched NP normals (N = 88; 33% vs. 10%, p = .003). There was also a trend for NP impaired individuals to have a higher prevalence of on-road accidents in the past year (33% vs. 18%, p = .08). NP impaired participants did more poorly on the simulator (M of 4.8 vs. 2.2 accidents, p < .001). There was a trend for individuals who had on-road accidents to have more accidents on the simulator (3.6 vs. 2.6, p = .1). We conclude that even relatively mild HIV-related NP dysfunction may be associated with increased driving risk, and driving simulators may have some utility in detecting driving impairments. |
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