Traffic accident risk associated with the prescription of drugs: a review of seven Norwegian registry-based cohort studies

There is limited information about traffic accident risk associated with using medicinal drugs. We aimed to summarize seven Norwegian studies about the traffic accident risk after dispensing prescribed drugs. Different medicines were studied, including those where an increased traffic accident risk would be expected, as well as drugs without any such expectations. Information on prescriptions and traffic accidents were obtained from population-based registries. The Norwegian population aged 18-69 between January 2004 and September 2006 was studied (3.1 million people). The Norwegian Road Accident Registry and the Norwegian Prescription Database were coupled based on the unique identification number assigned to all individuals living in Norway. The drug exposure period was defined as the first week after the day of dispensing the drug. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated by comparing the incidence of accidents among subjects prescribed the drug in question with the incidence among unexposed subjects. During the study period 20,494 road accidents with personal injuries occurred. The accident risk was in general highest for men, and higher for the younger ages. The road traffic accident risk was increased for those who had received prescriptions for any medicine. About the same SIRs were found for subjects exposed to antidepressants and NSAIDs. The risk was further increased for subjects exposed to natural opium alkaloids, methadone, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and tranquilizing and hypnotic benzodiazepines. Confounding factors related to the state of needing prescribed drugs may have played a role in this study. The increased risk of traffic accidents for subjects prescribed drugs with abuse and sedating potential, supports results from previous studies, and did in particular represent new knowledge related to the commonly used medicines zopiclone and codeine.

• Record URL:
  http://www.icadtsinternational.com/documents/?category=20th_T2013_Brisbane
• Authors:
  • Gustavsen, I
  • Engeland, A
  • Moerland, J
  • Bramness, J G
  • Skurtveit, S
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 303-8
• Monograph Title: 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference Proceedings, 25-28 August 2013, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drivers; Drug effects; Drugs; High risk drivers; Human subject testing; Impaired drivers; Medication; Risk analysis; Risk assessment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Norway
• ATRI Terms: Cohort study; Crash proneness; Drug effects; Fitness to drive; Medication; Risk analysis
• ITRD Terms: 2226: Driving aptitude
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495676
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 17 2013 10:12AM