Seizure Outcomes for Epilepsy Patients Support Certification for Fitness to Drive

Abstract

We investigated 126 epilepsy patients who received medical certification for fitness to drive at our adult epilepsy outpatient clinic. Of 126 patients, 25 (19.8%) had recurrence of a seizure after the medical certificate was issued. Of these 25 patients, nine exhibited poor therapeutic compliance, such as neglecting to take medicine. For patients receiving a certificate within 2 to 5 years of seizure, seizure inhibition rates were 88.3% in the 2nd year, and 75.6% in the 5th year. For patients receiving a certificate 5 years or more after seizure, seizure inhibition rates were 98.0% in both the 2nd year and the 5th year. We examined the cause of seizure recurrence in patients with good compliance. A longer period from the start of treatment to seizure inhibition, higher age of seizure onset, and electroencephalographic findings of generalized epileptic discharge were predictive factors for seizure recurrence.

The current results suggested that it is appropriate for epilepsy patients with good compliance to receive certification for fitness to drive on the basis of Japanese Road Traffic Law.