BACKGROUND: Stopping driving has significant negative consequences for older adults, but there is no simple, reliable screening tool to predict driving cessation. We sought to determine if self-rated health (SRH) was an independent predictor of driving cessation among older adults. METHODS: Data on SRH (poor, fair, good, very good, or excellent), medical diagnoses, physical performance, visual acuity, driving status, and other relevant covariates were collected from 649 community-dwelling older Alabama drivers during in-home interviews. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we estimated the association of SRH with driving cessation 2 years later. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 74 years; 43% were women, 41% African American, and 48% rural. Overall, 36% reported poor to fair SRH at baseline, and 11% had stopped driving after 2 years. Compared to 8% of drivers with good to excellent SRH, 17% with poor to fair health stopped driving (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.41; p=.025). Lower Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores (adjusted OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.95; p=.001) and older age (adjusted OR, 1.06 per year; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; p=.010) were also associated with driving cessation. Receiver operating characteristics curves documented similar predictive discrimination (c statistics) for SRH (0.72), the SPPB (0.70), and a count of comorbidities based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Poor to fair SRH predicted incident driving cessation after 2 years in a cohort of older adults. SRH can be easily obtained during clinic visits to identify at-risk drivers.
BACKGROUND: Stopping driving has significant negative consequences for older adults, but there is no simple, reliable screening tool to predict driving cessation. We sought to determine if self-rated health (SRH) was an independent predictor of driving cessation among older adults. METHODS: Data on SRH (poor, fair, good, very good, or excellent), medical diagnoses, physical performance, visual acuity, driving status, and other relevant covariates were collected from 649 community-dwelling older Alabama drivers during in-home interviews. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we estimated the association of SRH with driving cessation 2 years later. RESULTS:Participants had a mean age of 74 years; 43% were women, 41% African American, and 48% rural. Overall, 36% reported poor to fair SRH at baseline, and 11% had stopped driving after 2 years. Compared to 8% of drivers with good to excellent SRH, 17% with poor to fair health stopped driving (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.41; p=.025). Lower Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores (adjusted OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.95; p=.001) and older age (adjusted OR, 1.06 per year; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; p=.010) were also associated with driving cessation. Receiver operating characteristics curves documented similar predictive discrimination (c statistics) for SRH (0.72), the SPPB (0.70), and a count of comorbidities based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Poor to fair SRH predicted incident driving cessation after 2 years in a cohort of older adults. SRH can be easily obtained during clinic visits to identify at-risk drivers.
Authors: Linda S Ng; Jack M Guralnik; Cora Man; Carolyn DiGuiseppi; David Strogatz; David W Eby; Lindsay H Ryan; Lisa J Molnar; Marian E Betz; Linda Hill; Guohua Li; Christopher L Crowe; Thelma J Mielenz Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2020-01-24
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Authors: Kathleen A Turano; Beatriz Munoz; Shirin E Hassan; Donald D Duncan; Emily W Gower; Karen B Roche; Lisa Keay; Cynthia A Munro; Sheila K West Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2009-04-09 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Lisa Keay; Beatriz Munoz; Kathleen A Turano; Shirin E Hassan; Cynthia A Munro; Donald D Duncan; Kevin Baldwin; Srichand Jasti; Emily W Gower; Sheila K West Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2008-08-21 Impact factor: 4.799