Effect of a cognitive test at license renewal for older drivers on their crash risk in Japan

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masao Ichikawa ◽  
Haruhiko Inada ◽  
Shinji Nakahara

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of adding a cognitive test to a license renewal procedure for drivers aged 75 years or older in reducing their motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). The test has been obligatory since June 2009.MethodsUsing monthly police-reported national data on MVCs from January 2005 through December 2016, we calculated the rates of MVCs per licensed driver-year by sex and age group (70–74, 75–79, 80–84 and 85 years or older) for each month together with the ratios of MVC rates of drivers in the three oldest age groups (which are subject to the test) to those of the 70–74 years group (not subject to the test) to control for extraneous factors affecting MVCs over the study period. Then, we conducted an interrupted time-series analysis by regressing the rate ratio stratified by sex and age group on the number of months from January 2005, June 2009 (when the cognitive test was introduced to a license renewal procedure) and June 2012 (when all drivers subject to the test have taken it at least once).ResultsThe rates showed a longitudinal decrease in male and female drivers over the study period without any apparent effects of the introduction of the cognitive test while no significant decrease was observed in the rate ratios after the introduction of the cognitive test.ConclusionsThere were no clear safety benefits of the cognitive test for drivers aged 75 years or older to reduce their MVCs.

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Senthilselvan

OBJECTIVE: To examine the trends in hospitalization rates for atsthma in Saskatchewan from 1970 to 1989 and to investigate the differences in asthma hospitalization rates between rural and urban dwellers.DESIGN: Asthma hospitalization rates were calculated for the age groups O to 4, 5 to 9. 10 to 14, 15 to 24. 25 to 34. 35 to 49 and 50 to 64 years for the period between 1970 and 1989. Only the first admission in each year for each person was included in the analysis. As the classification of asthma changed in 1978. trends in asthma hospitalization rates were investigated separately for the periods 1970 to 1978 and 1979 to 1989. respectively. Rate ratios were obtained for male/female and rural/urban comparisons by fitting Poisson regression models.SETTING: The hospitalization data for respiratory diseases for the province of Saskatchewan were examined by age group, sex and place or residence.RESULT: No significant increases were observed in asthma hospitalization rates lrorn 1970 to 1978. In the period 1979 to 1989. asthma hospitalization rates increased significantly among children under four years from 4.31/1000 in 1979 to 7.04/1000 in 1989. Among children under 14 years. asthma hospitalization rates were greater in boys than in girls . The converse was true for adults aged 15 and above, with women having a higher hospitalization rate for asthma than men . In adults aged 35 and above. rural dwellers had higher hospitalization rates for asthma than urban dwellers throughout the study period. In other age groups, although rural dwellers had higher asthma hospitalization rates than did urban dwellers during 1970 to 1984. the differences disappered duri ng 1985 to 1989.CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to find reasons for the increase in asthma hospitalizations among young children under four years old and for the differences between rural and urban dwellers in the age group 35 years and above.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Maruyama ◽  
Kazutake Taguchi

AbstractDriving after natural disasters entails a substantial amount of stress; therefore, the number of motor vehicle crashes may increase. However, few studies have examined this issue. This study investigated motor vehicle crashes after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake in Japan. Monthly data about crashes resulting in property damage from 49 municipalities in Kumamoto from 2015 to 2018 were used. An interrupted time series analysis using Poisson or negative binomial regression models was conducted for 49 municipalities; the models were estimated for four classified areas to obtain the robust results. We found that property damage crashes increased significantly in the heavily affected area (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.48, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.29, 1.71) and the affected area (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.36) after the earthquake. A mountainous area showed a reduction in property damage crashes despite its heavy damage (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.82), which can be attributed to the closure of its main gate routes. The unaffected area showed no difference before and after the earthquake. Geographical presentation of the result demonstrates a clear positive association of earthquake damage and increased crashes. The findings of this study highlight the importance of motor-vehicle-crash alerts after an earthquake.


Author(s):  
Christina L. James ◽  
Kathryn Wochinger ◽  
W. Spencer James ◽  
Deborah Boehm-Davis

This experiment examined whether visual, perceptual, or cognitive measures predicted the ability to detect vehicle collisions in intersections. Sixty subjects, comprised of three age groups balanced by gender, were presented dynamic intersection approaches in a part-task driving simulator. The subjects were asked to project the forward progress of crossing traffic and to indicate whether any of the crossing vehicles would conflict with their vehicle. Independent variables included visual, perceptual, and cognitive test batteries. Dependent variables included accuracy in collision detection and error type. Results showed that all three batteries predicted accuracy, but that the perceptual battery was the most predictive for each age group.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 819-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriána Dudlová ◽  
Pavol Jarčuška ◽  
Silvia Jurišová ◽  
Zuzana Vasilková ◽  
Vladimír Krčméry ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of the research was to determine the prevalence of non-pathogenic protozoa circulating in the human population of Slovakia. We particularly focused on the socially deprived areas with poor sanitation conditions, as they are one of the factors affecting the transmission of these infections. Within this study, 2760 people were coprologically screened for the presence of protozoan cysts. The analyzed group comprised 1173 men and 1587 women from different regions of Slovakia. The total prevalence (2.03%) of non-pathogenic protozoa species was determined. The prevalence of Entamoeba coli was 0.80%, the prevalence of Endolimax nana 0.58%, and the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis was 0.65%. The presence of non-pathogenic protozoa was more frequent in women than that in men, in all age groups. The highest incidence of Entamoeba coli was found in children aged one month – seven years (0.79%), the lowest in the age group of 19–88 years (0.66%). Endolimax nana was most frequent in 8–18 year-olds (0.95%), where the statistical significance was found (p<0.05). The prevalence of Blastocystis hominis by the age group ranged from 0.39 to 0.95%. We did not find any statistical significance (p>0.05) for Entamoeba coli, and similarly for Blastocystis hominis associated with the sex and age. Although the circulation of non-pathogenic protozoa in the human population is far from being limited to the developing countries, their occurrence is also frequent in the population of developed countries. Despite their controversial pathogenicity, they should not be neglected, particularly in the patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (Number 2) ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
Monowar Ahmad Tarafdar ◽  
Nadia Begum ◽  
Shila Rani Das ◽  
Sultana Begum ◽  
Mehruba Afrin ◽  
...  

This is a cross sectional study conducted among Currently Married Women of Reproductive Age (CMWRA) with a sample size of 476 selected purposively using a semi-structured questionnaire in 2018 at Moulvibazar Sadar to explore the factors affecting fertility. The result shows that 55.26% respondents were within 35 years age whereas only 4.28% from age group 46-49 years age group, 33% of the respondents got married at <16 years of age and 18.70% were illiterate, 47.90% had primary education. It is evident that 76% of the respondents were from rural area; 88% were Muslims, 29.41% from lower middle class followed by upper middle class (25.42%) and poorest comprised only 7.56%. The result explored that 73.91% of the respondents were from age group 41-45 got married before 16 years of age followed by 36-40 years (68.24%), 46-49 years (66%), 20-25 and 26-30 years age groups 52.38% and 52.75% respectively; 73.33% of respondents from rural area got married at <16 years of age, 68.42% of the Muslim at <16 years. The study explored that 96.39% from poorer section and 83.33% from poorest section got married at <16 years of age. Current study revealed that 82.91% of the respondents having secondary education got married before 16 years of age followed by illiterate (82.02%). It is explored that the age at marriage is statistically associated with residence, education, wealth index and religion (p= 0.001, 0.03, 0.001, 0.001 respectively). We conclude that the sociodemographic condition contributes mostly to fertility differentials in Bangladesh.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
MK Sarker ◽  
MM Sarker ◽  
MFK Bhuiyan ◽  
MMR Khan ◽  
ASMA Raihan

Oesophageal cancer is a gastrointestinal malignancy with insidious onset and poor prognosis. The disease predominantly affects the older age groups with pick incidence between 60 to 70 years of age. The total number of oesophageal cancer patients available for the study within the stipulated time was 43. Among them 60.47% patients were male and 39.53% patients were female, 06.98% belonged to age group 31-40, 16.28% belonged to age group 41-50, 37.21% belonged to age group 51-60, 23.25% belonged to age group 61-70 and 16.28% patients were >70 years of age. Mean age was 59.95 years ± 12.63 SD. In our study, 33.3% survived ≤3 months, 09.1% 4–6 months, 15.2 % 7–9 months, 06.1% 10–12 months, 27.2% 13–24 months and 09.1% >24 months. Among the expired patients, 09.10% got curative treatment and rest of 90.90% got palliative treatment. Those who got curative treatment 66.7% survived 13–24 months and 33.3% > 24 months. Those who got palliative treatment 36.7% survived ≤3 months, 10.0% 4–6 months, 06.7% 10–12 months and 30.0% 13–24 months. Overall median survival was 08 months, for curative treatment 18 months and for palliative treatment 07 months.TAJ 2014; 27(1): 38-43


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
MK Sarker ◽  
MM Sarker ◽  
NA Parveen ◽  
PM Basak ◽  
ASMA Raihan

Stomach cancer is a gastrointestinal malignancy with insidious onset and poor prognosis. The disease predominantly affects the older age groups with pick incidence between 60 to 70 years of age. The total number of stomach cancer patients available for the study within the stipulated time was 105. Among them 69.52% patients were male and 30.48% patients were female. 0.95% patient belonged to age group <20, 11.43% belonged to age group 21-30, 09.52% belonged to age group 31-40, 23.81% belonged to age group 41-50, 28.57% belonged to age group 51-60, 20.0% belonged to age group 61-70 and 05.72% patients were >70 years of age. Mean age was 54.91 years ± 13.42 SD. In our study, 45.6% survived <3 months, 15.8% 4–6 months, 07.0% 7–9 months, 14.0% 10–12 months, 10.6% 13–24 months and 07.0% >24 months. Among 57 expired patients, 14 got curative treatment and rest of 43 got palliative treatment. Those who got curative treatment, 36.4% survived 10–12 months, 45.5% 13–24 months and 18.1% > 24 months. Those who got palliative treatment 51.5% survived <3 months, 24.2% 4–6 months, 12.1% 7–9 months, 09.1% 10–12 months and 03.1% 13–24 months. Overall median survival was 06 months, for curative treatment 16 months and for palliative treatment 03 months.TAJ 2014; 27(2): 44-49


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Owsley ◽  
Thomas Swain ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Gerald McGwin ◽  
Mi Young Kwon

Abstract Background Older drivers have a crash rate nearly equal to that of young drivers whose crash rate is the highest among all age groups. Contrast sensitivity impairment is common in older adults. The purpose of this study is to examine whether parameters from the photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity functions (CSF) are associated with incident motor vehicle crash involvement by older drivers. Methods This study utilized data from older drivers (ages ≥60 years) who participated in the Strategic Highway Research Program Naturalistic Driving Study, a prospective, population-based study. At baseline participants underwent photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity testing for targets from 1.5–18 cycles per degree. Model fitting generated area under the log CSF (AULCSF) and peak log sensitivity. Participant vehicles were instrumented with sensors that captured continuous driving data when the vehicle was operating (accelerometers, global positioning system, forward radar, 4-channel video). They participated for 1–2 years. Crashes were coded from the video and other data streams by trained analysts. Results The photopic analysis was based on 844 drivers, and the mesopic on 854 drivers. Photopic AULCSF and peak log contrast sensitivity were not associated with crash rate, whether defined as all crashes or at-fault crashes only (all p > 0.05). Mesopic AULCSF and peak log sensitivity were associated with an increased crash rate when considered for all crashes (rate ratio (RR): 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06–1.72; RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01–1.63, respectively) and at-fault crashes only (RR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.16–1.93; RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07–1.78, respectively). Conclusions Results suggest that photopic contrast sensitivity testing may not help us understand future crash risk at the older-driver population level. Results highlight a previously unappreciated association between older adults’ mesopic contrast sensitivity deficits and crash involvement regardless of the time of day. Given the wide variability of light levels encountered in both day and night driving, mesopic vision tests, with their reliance on both cone and rod vision, may be a more comprehensive assessment of the visual system’s ability to process the roadway environment.


2020 ◽  
pp. injuryprev-2020-043945
Author(s):  
Mitchell L Doucette ◽  
Andrew Tucker ◽  
Marisa E Auguste ◽  
Amy Watkins ◽  
Christa Green ◽  
...  

IntroductionUnderstanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our health and safety is imperative. This study sought to examine the impact of COVID-19’s stay-at-home order on daily vehicle miles travelled (VMT) and MVCs in Connecticut.MethodsUsing an interrupted time series design, we analysed daily VMT and MVCs stratified by crash severity and number of vehicles involved from 1 January to 30 April 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. MVC data were collected from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository; daily VMT estimates were obtained from StreetLight Insight’s database. We used segmented Poisson regression models, controlling for daily temperature and daily precipitation.ResultsThe mean daily VMT significantly decreased 43% in the post stay-at-home period in 2020. While the mean daily counts of crashes decreased in 2020 after the stay-at-home order was enacted, several types of crash rates increased after accounting for the VMT reductions. Single vehicle crash rates significantly increased 2.29 times, and specifically single vehicle fatal crash rates significantly increased 4.10 times when comparing the pre-stay-at-home and post-stay-at-home periods.DiscussionDespite a decrease in the number of MVCs and VMT, the crash rate of single vehicles increased post stay-at-home order enactment in Connecticut after accounting for reductions in VMT.


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