Three office-based tests may help identify which stroke survivors are at risk for failing a driving test, according to a meta-analysis in Neurology.
Researchers analyzed 27 studies comprising some 1700 stroke survivors, over half of whom were declared fit to drive after they passed an on-road test. Patients had a higher likelihood of passing if they had undergone on-road or simulator-based driving training before their test.
The following office-based tests predicted who was at risk for failing the on-road test:
- Road Sign Recognition test — Measures traffic knowledge and visual comprehension (sensitivity, 84%; specificity, 54%);
- Compass test — Assesses cognitive speed and visual-perceptual and visual-spatial abilities (sensitivity, 85%; specificity, 54%);
- Trail Making Test Part B — Looks at visual-motor tracking and visual scanning (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 62%).
Three of four studies found no increased crash risk among stroke survivors who passed the on-road test, but the authors write that there were too few studies to enable a firm conclusion on that point.
