AUTHOR=van Leeuwen Roeland B. , Schermer Tjard R. , Colijn Carla , Bruintjes Tjasse D. 

TITLE=Dizziness and Driving From a Patient Perspective

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.693963

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.693963

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background
People with dizziness may experience driving-related limitations. Few data are available about the impact of dizziness on driving. 
Aim: 
To investigate the impact of dizziness on driving, factors related to impairment and the potential consequences for patients’ ability to work. 
Methods:
A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the Apeldoorn Dizziness Centre, a tertiary care referral centre for patients with dizziness. A consecutive cohort of patients was asked to complete a study-specific questionnaire about driving.
Results: 
Between 1 January 2020 and 20 December 2020, 432 patients were included. Fifty-six % of the patients in this group was female. The average age of patients was 58.3 years (SD 16). Overall, 191 of the 432 patients (44%) experienced limitations related to driving, and 40% of the patients who experienced limitations also experienced limitations to work related to their inability to drive. The subject of fitness to drive had not been discussed with their  physician in 92% of the patients, and 24% of the whole patient group indicated that they would have liked to discuss this topic. The following factors, independently from each other, increased the chance of experiencing driving-related limitations: younger age, female sex, and the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease.
Conclusion: 
Dizzy patients, especially younger patients, women and patients with Meniere’s disease, regularly experience limitations related to driving, and this often means that they are unable to work.  In our opinion  the topic of driving and dizziness should always be addressed during medical consultations in dizzy patients.