Citation

Kellermann JJ, Kariv I, Lederman D, Wortreich B, King BG. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1971; 15: 376-387.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1971, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An evaluation of the fitness of persons with ischemic heart disease for driving motor vehicles is underway at the Cardiac Evaluation and Rehabilitation Institute, Tel Aviv, Israel. To date, laboratory and driving tests have been conducted on 359 drivers. One-hundred and fifty-eight were heart cases--myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and coronary insufficiency. Two-hundred and one were control subjects. The laboratory evaluation of the functional condition of the examinees included multistage ergometry to determine the individual's submaximal physical work capacity. The submaximal physical work capacity is defined as the greatest workload at which the patient is able to perform in a steady-state under aerobic conditions during the last 2½ minutes of a 5-minute effort. A psychological evaluation was made also. The evaluation while driving included continuous tape recording of his ECG during a 55- minute drive on city traffic conditions. Blood pressure and pulse rates were recorded immediately prior to the test, during stop at 30 minutes, and following the driving test. Notes were taken on details such as overtaking, sudden stops, curves, and being stopped by the police. Findings on the control subjects and those with ischemic heart disease are compared.