The Impact of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Impairment on Driving Performance in Commercial Truck Drivers.

Journal: AIDS and behavior

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  HIV Mental Health Research Unit and Neurosciences Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. hetta.gouse@uct.ac.za. HIV Mental Health Research Unit and Neurosciences Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. ACSENT Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Science, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. HIV Neurovehavioral Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Abstract summary 

Driving ability can be diminished amongst people with HIV with associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI). We explore the relationship between HIV status, NCI and driving ability in professional truck drivers. Forty male professional drivers (20 HIV-positive; mean age = 39.20 ± 7.05) completed a neuropsychological test battery, two driving simulator tasks that assessed driving ability, and a driving history and habits questionnaire. A higher proportion of HIV-positive drivers exhibited impaired overall cognitive performance (p ≤ 0.001). Overall, drivers with NCI (defined as z ≤ 1.00) were more likely than those without NCI to crash (p = 0.002). There were no significant between-group (HIV-positive versus HIV-negative) differences with regard to self-reported on-road driving events. Professional drivers with NCI, as measured on a driving simulator, are at increased risk of making driving errors under high-risk conditions compared to their neurocognitively normal counterparts. These data should inform driver health management with regard to annual medical screening and surveillance.

Authors & Co-authors:  Gouse H H Masson C J CJ Henry M M Thomas K G F KGF Robbins R N RN Kew G G London L L Joska J A JA Marcotte T D TD

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Gendelman HE, Grant I, Everall IP, Fox HS, Gelbard HA, Lipton SA, et al., editors. The neurology of AIDS. 3rd ed. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press; 2012.
Authors :  9
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1007/s10461-020-03033-7
SSN : 1573-3254
Study Population
Male
Mesh Terms
Accidents, Traffic
Other Terms
Automobile driving;Cognition;HIV-associaited neurocognitive disorders;Occupational health;Truck drivers
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States