Predictors of a successful driver evaluation in stroke patients after discharge based on an acute rehabilitation hospital evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: One of the most common concerns of a stroke patient is the ability to drive. We aimed to determine which neurologic impairments on an acute rehabilitation admission evaluation predict the likelihood of a successful driver evaluation after discharge.

DESIGN: Prospective study in an acute stroke rehabilitation unit.

RESULTS: A total of 45 stroke patients undertook a driver evaluation at our institution. The mean age +/- standard deviation was 71.0 +/- 9.8 yrs, Mini-Mental State Examination score was 22.7 +/- 8.1, upper limb and lower limb Motricity Index scores were 63.7 +/- 34.8 and 71.8 +/- 24.3, Limb Placement Task was 4.6 +/- 3.6 inches, and admission total FIM score was 68.5 +/- 18. The admission variables differed between those who failed (n = 10) vs. those who passed the in-clinic driver evaluation (n = 29, 75%): Mini-Mental State Examination (17.5 +/- 9.7 vs. 24.6 +/- 6.7, P = 0.004), and upper limb (82 +/- 23.7 vs. 57.4 +/- 36.1, P = 0.05) and lower limb (87.6 +/- 11.8 vs. 66.4 +/- 25.2, P = 0.01) Motricity Index scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undertook and passed the in-clinic driver evaluation had, at admission, higher Mini-Mental State Examination and Motricity Index scores with normal visual field defects.