Citation

Cranney AB, Harrison A, Ruhland L, Vaidyanath C, Graham I, Man-Son-Hing M, Jaffey J, Towheed TE, Anastassiades TP, Dwosh II. J. Rheumatol. 2005; 32(12): 2337-2342.

Affiliation

Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada. ancranney@ohri.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Journal of Rheumatology Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16331759

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess driving problems experienced by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to examine the relationship between functional status and driving difficulty. METHODS: Using the South Eastern Ontario Medical Organization (SEAMO) database, we identified 721 patients with RA from both urban and rural backgrounds. They completed a cross-sectional, self-administered mail survey that included the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI) and a co-morbidity questionnaire. We assessed the proportion of drivers versus non-drivers and patients who reported difficulty driving and who used vehicle adaptations. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 74% and 92.2% of the subjects were current drivers. Fifty percent of the current drivers reported a little difficulty, 6.8% reported quite a bit of difficulty, and 1.5% a great deal of difficulty driving. Major reasons given for why RA limited their driving were stiffness and pain. Frequent use of mobility aids (adjusted odds ratio, OR: 5.85), HAQ-DI > or = 1 (adjusted OR: 3.40), and older age (adjusted OR: 1.04) were significant predictors of an individual with RA discontinuing driving. Higher levels of disability (HAQ-DI) were associated with a greater number of problems reported with driving and with curtailment of driving. A multivariate logistic regression determined that having a HAQ-DI > or = 1 (adjusted OR: 4.3) and difficulties sitting in the vehicle (adjusted OR: 2.9) were associated with RA limiting driving. CONCLUSION: Over 50% of respondents reported some degree of difficulty driving due to their RA. Scores on HAQ-DI > or = 1 were associated with difficulty driving. Further validation of our findings needs to be performed.