2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

Cardiac syncopeCardiac syncope refers to syncope caused by cardiac conditions such as: valvular heart disease chronic heart failure, or arrhythmias (bradycardias or tachycardias).Cardiac arrhythmias are the most common cause of cardiac syncope.22.2 Prevalence and incidence of syncopeThe prevalence of syncope is difficult to determine. One study reported that 3% of males and3.5% of females had at least one episode of syncope over a 26 year period. The CanadianCardiovascular Society estimates that syncope may affect as many as 50% of Canadians at somepoint during their life. Higher rates of syncope are reported in older individuals.22.3 Syncope and adverse driving outcomesFew studies have considered the relationship between syncope and driving. Of those that have,most indicate a relationship between syncope and impaired driving performance for at least somegroups that experience syncope.22.4 Effect of syncope on functional ability to driveSyncope causes an episodic impairment of all the functions necessary for driving.ConditionType of drivingimpairment andassessmentapproachPrimaryfunctionalabilityaffectedAssessment toolsSyncopeEpisodicimpairment:Medical assessment– likelihood ofimpairmentAll – suddenincapacitationDriver’s MedicalExamination ReportSpecialist’s report289