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Medical conditions and driving fitness of older Singaporean taxi drivers.

BACKGROUND
Taxi driving has been associated with the risk of various diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipaemia, back pain). Little is known about the relationship between health conditions and driving fitness of older taxi drivers who continue to work.


AIMS
To investigate the (i) prevalence of medical conditions and (ii) relationship between age and medical conditions, with on-road driving tests in the relicensing process of older taxi drivers aged ≥70 years, prior to the mandatory retirement age of 75 years.


METHODS
We analysed retrospectively all relicensing records (N = 855) of taxi drivers aged 70, 73 and 74 years that were submitted from April 2014 to April 2015.


RESULTS
All passed their medical fitness screening. Ninety-eight per cent passed their driving tests. Thirty-one per cent, 36% and 24% reported none, one and two medical conditions, respectively. These included hypertension (56%), eye disease (25%; cataracts 19%), diabetes (24%), corrected hearing impairment (14%), hyperlipaemia (12%) and heart disease (9%). Deafness (P < 0.001) was associated with older age. No past medical condition affected driving outcome.


CONCLUSION
Older Singaporean taxi drivers were healthy and generally competent drivers. Early effective preventive health screening and modifiable lifestyle intervention are recommended in older taxi drivers.