Driving Safety Among Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis

Abstract Background: Human error is the main cause of car accidents and whether cognitive impairments related to dialysis session and/or comorbid medical conditions increase the risk of car accidents is still unclarified. Our objective is to explore patients’ perceptions on driving and car accidents among dialysis patients. Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire survey done in eight dialysis units in Saudi Arabia. All adults’ patients on in-center hemodialysis for more than three months were included in the study. Results: Data were collected from 771 adults (45.1% women) enrolled in the study. Among participants, 56.0% were diabetic, 87.7% with hypertension and 25.3% with coronary artery disease. Ninety-nine patients (30.46%) stopped driving spontaneously, of whom 43.0% reported “lack of attention” as the cause. Among participants who continued to drive, 137 sustained a road traffic accident. The majority of patients complained of post-dialysis fatigue (n = 378, 54.6%), which was associated with a higher risk of car accidents. Self-reported hypoglycaemia and tight glycemic control were associated with more car accidents. Conclusion: Most of the participants stopped driving after starting dialysis or felt that continuing driving was unsafe. Those who continued to drive were at a higher risk of road traffic accidents. Health care providers and institutions need to engage in patient transportation to be part of holistic care delivery.