Driving and Incidence of Functional Limitation in Older People: A Prospective Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND

Many studies have examined the negative social and health consequences of driving cessation in later life. However, whether the transition to driving cessation results in the incidence of functional limitation in older people remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine whether driving cessation was associated with the incidence of functional limitation in older Japanese individuals.

METHODS

The study included 3,556 participants (mean age: 71.5 ± 5.3 years, 50.2% women) enrolled in the 'Obu Study of Health Promotion for the Elderly' cohort study between August 2011 and February 2012. The participants were classified into three groups according to their driving status: driving, driving cessation, and nondriving. We assessed new incidence of functional limitation over a 24- month period and examined several confounding factors.

RESULTS

The incidence rates for functional limitation in the driving, driving cessation, and nondriving groups were 0.9, 10.8, and 5.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). The fully adjusted Cox proportional hazard model showed that hazard ratios (HRs) for functional limitation in nondrivers [HR: 2.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-4.44] and those who had ceased driving (HR: 7.80, 95% CI: 2.61-23.36) were significantly higher relative to those observed in current drivers.

CONCLUSION

Driving cessation exerted a strong impact on the risk of functional limitation. Further study is required to determine appropriate intervention strategies to help older people to maintain the abilities required for safe driving and delay the functional limitation associated with driving cessation.