Regulating drivers with epilepsy in Maryland: Results of the application of a United States consensus guideline
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Gregory L. Krauss; Martha Matsumoto; John Bloch; Jennifer L. Hopp; Carl A. Soderstrom; Allan Krumholz; Perry J. Foreman; Brandy B. Ma; Mary Anne Scottino
- Source
- Epilepsia. 58:1389-1397
- Subject
- Adult
Male
Predictive validity
Automobile Driving
medicine.medical_specialty
Consensus
Adolescent
Crash
Seizure recurrence
Individual risk
Risk Assessment
Young Adult
03 medical and health sciences
Epilepsy
0302 clinical medicine
Risk Factors
Humans
Medicine
Longitudinal Studies
030212 general & internal medicine
Aged
Retrospective Studies
Aged, 80 and over
Maryland
business.industry
Retrospective cohort study
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
United States
Governing Board
Neurology
Family medicine
Female
Neurology (clinical)
Outcome data
business
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Consensus guideline
- Language
- ISSN
- 0013-9580
SummaryObjective Driving regulations for people with seizures vary widely throughout the United States and the world. Maryland updated their guidelines in 2003 to reflect those of a U.S. consensus guideline requiring a minimum 3-month seizure-free period as well as an individual risk assessment by a Medical Advisory Board (MAB). This retrospective study provides the first analysis of outcomes after the implementation of the consensus guidelines and an assessment of their predictive validity through longitudinal outcome data. Methods MAB reviews and licensing records for Maryland driver applicants with seizures between 2004 and 2005 were reviewed, during which 254 first-time applicants were processed. The initial licensing decisions were assessed and the subsequent seizure recurrence and crash rates over the following 7 years were evaluated. Results The MAB approved driving for 74.8% of initial applicants; most had been seizure-free for over 6 months. Approved drivers had a longer median seizure-free period (563 days) compared to those who were denied (104.5 days, p