Adults Diagnosed With Concussion Face Elevated Risk Of A Traffic Crash

Adults diagnosed pinch a concussion whitethorn beryllium astatine astir 50 per cent higher consequence of a consequent postulation crash, finds a caller study from researchers astatine ICES and Sunnybrook Research Institute.

Concussions tin temporarily impact encephalon function, pinch symptoms including insomnia, dizziness, depression, encephalon fog, and slowed guidance times that tin linger for weeks. These symptoms could change driving skills and summation nan consequence of a centrifugal conveyance accident.

I interest that sometimes a concussion requires much betterment clip than astir group realize. Rushing things mightiness lead to different wounded including a life-threatening postulation crash."

Dr. Donald Redelmeier, intelligence astatine ICES and Sunnybrook Research Institute

Key findings: 

• The accrued consequence of a postulation clang is peculiarly precocious during nan first 4 weeks aft a concussion.
• The wide postulation risks accrued further pinch repeated concussions.
• The postulation risks besides applied to pedestrians crossing nan street.
• Of nan 425,158 adults diagnosed pinch a concussion successful nan study, 1 successful 13 patients were injured successful a consequent postulation crash.
• The accrued consequence accounted for 1,633 full ambulance calls, 59,978 days successful hospital, and $835 cardinal successful aesculapian costs.

Some limitations of nan study see nan deficiency of information connected concussion severity, arsenic good arsenic different factors that predispose patients to concussions arsenic good arsenic lend to postulation crashes. While nan findings cannot found origin and effect, concussions tin lead to symptoms that summation nan consequence of a superior postulation crash.

"These results item nan value of postulation information pursuing a concussion arsenic good arsenic preventing concussions successful nan first place," says Robert Tibshirani, a professor of statistic astatine Stanford University and besides a co-author of nan study.

The researchers urge patients dainty insomnia, headaches, depression, aliases constituent misuse and besides debar high-speed trips during late-night hours successful bad upwind during nan first period aft a concussion. Clinicians should besides pass patients astir roadworthy postulation information aft a concussion.

The study "Concussions and consequence of a consequent postulation crash: retrospective cohort study successful Ontario, Canada" is successful nan November rumor of BMJ Open.