Date Published:
10/2004
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Authors:
Secondary:
Neurology
Volume:
63
Pagination:
1417-22
Issue:
8
URL:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Keywords:
Accidents;Automobile Driving;Internal;Psychomotor Disorders;Psychomotor Performance;Traffic;User-Computer Interface
Abstract:
<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To examine if HIV-seropositive (HIV+) individuals are at risk for impaired driving. <strong>METHODS:</strong> Sixty licensed drivers (40 HIV+, 20 HIV-) completed a neuropsychological (NP) test battery and driving assessments. Eleven HIV+ subjects were NP-impaired. Driving-related skills were assessed using 1) two driving simulations (examining accident avoidance and navigational abilities), 2) the Useful Field of View (UFOV) test, and 3) an on-road evaluation. <strong>RESULTS:</strong> HIV+ NP-impaired subjects had greater difficulty than cognitively intact subjects on all driving measures, whereas the HIV- and HIV+ NP-normal groups performed similarly. On the UFOV, the HIV+ NP-impaired group had worse performance on Visual Processing and Divided Attention tasks but not in overall risk classification. They also had a higher number of simulator accidents (1.3 vs 2.0; p = 0.03), were less efficient at completing the navigation task (3.2 vs 9.2 blocks; p = 0.001), and were more likely to fail the on-road evaluation (6 vs 36%; p = 0.02). Impairment in Executive Functioning was the strongest NP predictor of failing the on-road drive test. NP performance and both simulations independently contributed to a model predicting 48% of the variance in on-road performance. <strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> HIV+ NP-impaired individuals are at increased risk for on-road driving impairments, whereas HIV+ individuals with normal cognition are not at a significantly higher risk than HIV- subjects. Executive Functioning is most strongly associated with impaired on-road performance. Cognitive and simulator testing may each provide data in identifying driving-impaired individuals.</p>