1. Koronarna bolest srca i sposobnost upravljanja motornim vozilom.
- Author
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Heitzler, Vjeran Nikolić
- Subjects
- *
CORONARY disease , *MOTOR vehicle drivers , *PHYSICAL fitness , *ACCIDENTS - Abstract
In modern societies a motor vehicle has become an essential part of daily living. In all countries the regulation of driving activity is usually followed by insistence on a level of competence and medical fitness. Croatia is the 28th member of the European Union and must comply with the European regulation of medical fitness to drive. According to the European Society of Cardiology1 (ESC), and recent guidelines on driving by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society2 (CCS) two groups of drivers are defined: private (PD), and commercial drivers (CD). What conditions can keep people from driving short-term or permanently? According to Road Traffic Safety Act of Croatia3, PD and CD are short-term or permanently unfit to drive: * Coronary heart diseases with frequent attacks of angina pectoris (AP), until the therapy or other forms of treatment result in a stable health condition when driving becomes safe. This item partly complies with ESC guidelines, but does not include percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) -- resuming driving is allowed after 7 days for PD, and 6 weeks for CD. * Myocardial infarction (MI) when at least 6 months have elapsed after the MI and successful rehabilitation, with no AP and consequences that affect safe driving. A significant difference compared to the ESC and CCS where PD driving is allowed 1 week after an acute MI and CD is allowed 6 weeks post MI. CDs are permanently unfit to drive: * The condition after the heart surgery (CABG) due to coronary heart disease or heart rhythm disorder (implanted pacemaker), when they affect safe driving. A great difference compared to the ESC and CCS guidelines: PD after CABG should wait for a period of 1 month after discharge and CD is not permitted for at least 6 weeks a re-licensing is subject to exercise evaluation. PD treated with permanent pacing, driving is allowed within one week, for CD any persistent symptoms are disqualifying. (Re-) licensing may be permitted after at least 6 weeks have elapsed or until an appropriate function is established and provided that there is no other disqualifying condition. ESC and CCS guidelines for coronary heart patients on fitness to drive are in compliance with recent medical insights reducing thus the possibility of loss of an economic status of CD and are more tolerant to PD. Croatia is therefore obliged to adopt their Road Traffic Safety Act regulating medical fitness to drive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014