Motor Vehicle Driver Fatalities Associated with Seizures
Abstract number :
G.08
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
2015
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
S.G. Sheth, MBBS,MPH, Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; G.L. Krauss, MD, Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; A. Krumholz, MD, Neurology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD; G. Li, MD, DrPH, Emergency Medicine, Johns Ho
RATIONALE: Although each state regulates driving for patients with seizures, the risk of fatal crashes due to seizures is unknown. We determined the number of driver fatalities in the U.S. associated with seizures compared to other medical conditions.
METHODS: We analyzed [dsquote]Multiple Causes of Mortality[dsquote] data from the National Center for Health Statistics for 1995-1997 using ICD-9 coding. This is a national death certificate database in which related medical conditions are linked and tabulated. We compared numbers of fatal crashes associated with seizures to other medical conditions. We excluded conditions secondary to trauma. We validated mortality data using the independent D.O.T. Fatal Accident Report System (FARS). FARS collects fatal crash information from police questionnaires and medical records.
RESULTS: Approximately 44,000 American drivers die of fatal crashes each year (1995-1997). An average of 1513 (range 1380-1600) driver crash fatalities are linked to medical conditions each year. Only an average of 89 driver fatalities are associated with seizures (range 81-102). Cardiac and hypertensive disorders account for most of the medically-related fatal crashes(mean 1257 per year), with fewer driver fatalities linked to diabetes (mean 151 per year), and syncope (mean 17 per year). FARS totaled the same number of fatal crashes, but had a lower estimate of medically-linked crashes than national mortality records.
CONCLUSIONS: Mortality data collected from death certificates often underestimates numbers of patients with epilepsy. The numbers of seizure-related fatal driver crashes, however, are low in both the NCHS mortality database and the D.O.T. Fatal accident reporting system (FARS). The numbers of fatal driver crashes linked to epilepsy are also low relative to cardiac and other medical conditions. Although seizure-related motor vehicle crashes may be serious and potentially preventable, they do not constitute a large public safety risk.
Support: Shire Richwood,Inc.
Disclosure: Grant - Shire-Richwood, Inc.