Stroke survivors a risk on our roads

Stroke survivors are getting back behind the wheel against medical advice, putting their own life and the lives of other road users at risk.

New Australian research, released at this week’s 25^th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Stroke Society of Australasia, found that one in four adult stroke survivors ignored guidelines and were driving within 28 days having a stroke.

The study, completed by The George Institute for Global Health, found that men who were the main income earners in a family were most likely to drive without waiting the recommended one month timeframe after a stroke.

Associate Professor Maree Hackett of The George Institute for Global Health said of the 359 research participants who were legally allowed to drive before having a stroke stroke, 96 (26.7%) resumed driving within the next month.

“Patients most likely to start driving were in full time employment, independent and confident in other areas of life. Some did not recall ever being advised not to drive,’’ Associate Professor Hackett said.

AustRoads Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines state that stroke may impair a person’s driving ability either because of the long-term neurological deficit it produces or because of the risk of a recurrent stroke behind the wheel. The Guidelines note that it is uncommon for strokes or TIA (mini-strokes) to result in motor vehicle crashes. It said when they did; it was usually due to an unrecognised vision issue.

Stroke Society of Australasia President Professor Mark Parsons said it was common for stroke survivors to experience high levels of fatigue, difficulty concentrating and judging space, vision issues and challenges coordinating movement, following a stroke.

“Often these symptoms are somewhat hidden. Stroke survivors may not even notice them until the symptoms have serious effect,’’ Professor Parsons said.

“When symptoms are clearly visible, such as a lack of movement down one side of the body, it is clear that a person should not be driving or at least not driving without appropriate aids in place. However, the absence of visible symptoms can lead stroke survivors to think they are in better health than they really are and this may be coupled with external pressures to get back to work and life to return to normal.”

The George Institute for Global Health study looked at patients aged 18 to 65 who had used Stroke Services in the New South Wales clinical network between October 2008 and June 2010.

This research was among a number of cutting edge studies and presentations given at the 25^th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Stroke Society of Australasia this month.

(Source: Stroke Foundation Australia)