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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Monday, May 31, 2021

Driving ability in patients with dizziness: a systematic review

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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 May 31. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06881-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate studies dealing with driving performance of dizzy patients or patients with a vestibular disorder.

METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. (1) PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. (2) Study selection: articles about driving ability and reported driving difficulties in patients with dizziness, or a diagnosed vestibular disorder, were included. (3) Data extraction was performed by two independent authors using predefined data fields: patient's characteristics, diagnostic criteria, sample size, and type of evaluation of driving ability and outcome of the study.

RESULTS: Eight out of 705 articles matched the inclusion criteria but varied widely regarding t he study population, study design, and outcome measures. The majority of studies reported a negative impact of dizziness and/or vestibular disorders on self-reported driving ability and car accidents. Yet several studies could not identify any impairment of driving ability.

CONCLUSIONS: Driving ability was negatively affected by dizziness or a vestibular disorder in the majority of included studies with low risk of bias. This systematic review revealed a significant heterogeneity in studies reporting driving performance and contradictory results. We were, therefore, unable to identify a causal relationship between dizziness and driving ability. There is a need for prospective studies in populations with different vestibular disorders using subjective and objective outcome measures that have been validated to evaluate driving performance.

PMID:34057598 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06881-8

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