2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

Cerebrovascular accidentCVAs are the 4th leading cause of death in Canada and account for 7% of all deaths in Canada.Of the 40,000 to 50,000 Canadians who have a CVA each year, 14,000 will die.The risk factors for CVA include: high blood pressure cigarette smoking heart disease carotid artery disease diabetes, and heavy use of alcohol.The risk for males is three times greater than for females. Risk also increases with age, withthose in their 70’s and 80’s at the greatest risk.Cerebral aneurysmPrevalence rates for cerebral aneurysm are unclear because they are often asymptomatic.Autopsy studies indicate a prevalence rate in the adult population between 1 and 5%, with 5%being a widely cited figure.Under age 40, cerebral aneurysms affect equal numbers of males and females, but are rarely seenin infants and children. Over age 40, more women than men are affected. The peak age forclinical manifestation of cerebral aneurysm is between 55 and 60.20.3 Cerebrovascular disease and adverse driving outcomesTransient ischemic attackThere has been little research on the relationship between TIA and adverse driving outcomes.Cerebrovascular accidentThere has been little research on episodic impairment (sudden incapacitation) of driving abilitydue to a CVA.In studies that considered the effects of persistent impairments from CVA as measured by fitnessto drive assessments, 50% or more of the subjects who had a CVA were assessed as unfit todrive. Surveys of drivers who had a CVA indicate that more than half did not resume drivingafter their CVA.Cerebral aneurysmNo studies were found that considered the relationship between cerebral aneurysm and adversedriving outcomes.241