The Fitness to Drive guidelines provide recommendations for people with seven conditions:

• ●

  active coronary artery disease

• ●

  Heart failure, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device

• ●

  Implantable devices (pacemakers and defibrillators)

• ●

  Syncope (fainting attack)

The co-chairs suggest an appropriate waiting time before resuming driving after a cardiac intervention or acute illness. Recommendations for short-term driving restrictions have often been derived based on harm risk equations because the evidence used shows that risk levels decrease over time.

Co-chair Harriet GC Van Spael, MD, MPH, McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences Center, and Beim Clinical Institute in Boston, said: “While this document is not intended to replace clinical judgment or government regulations, it provides clinicians with a comprehensive list of cardiac conditions and their associated risk of sudden incapacitation. This recommendation In some jurisdictions, these recommendations will trigger clinicians to notify transportation authorities. By following these recommendations, you can reduce, but not completely eliminate, the risks to yourself and others while driving. ”

Dr. Guerra concludes: “If a doctor determines that a driver poses a risk, some Canadian provinces require a report to transportation authorities. These are the only regulations issued for the safety of the patient and the safety of those around them. This is one of the guidelines for

Notes for editors

This article is “Canadian Cardiovascular Society 2023 Guidelines” by co-chairs Peter G. Guerra, MD, Christopher S. Simpson, MD, Harriet GC Van Spael, MD, MPH, and writing panel: Anita W. Asgar. MD, MSc, Phyllis Billia, PhD, MD, Julia Cadrin-Tourigny, MD, Santabhanu Chakrabarti, MBBS, MD, Christopher C. Cheung, MD, MPH, Annie Dore, MD, Christopher B. Fordyce, MD, MHS, MSc, Pishoi Gowda, MBBCh, Ansar Hassan, MD, Andrew Krahn, MD, Jessica GY Luc, MD, Susannah Mack, MD, PhD, Sean McMurtry, MD, PhD, Colleen Norris, PhD, MSc; RN, Francois Philippon, MD, Johnsup, MD, Robert Sheldon, MD, Candace Silverside, MD, Christian Steinberg, MD, David A. Wood, MD (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2023.09.033(Opens in new tab/window)). Here’s what it looks like online: Canadian Journal of CardiologyVolume 40, Issue 4, (April 2024) Published Elsevier.

This article is available for free at https://onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(23)01755-5/fulltext(Opens in new tab/window).

Full text of articles is also available to qualified journalists upon request. Contact Astrid Engelen-Visser at +31 6 14395474 or [email protected](Opens in new tab/window) Click here for PDF or more information. Journalists interested in speaking with the author should contact her Stephanie Naday at +1 403 828 1017, Director of Communications, Sociétécardiovascular Society of Canada, Directrice. [email protected](Opens in new tab/window).

regarding Canadian Journal of Cardiology

of Canadian Journal of Cardiology(Opens in new tab/window) This is the official journal of Canadian Cardiovascular Society(Opens in new tab/window). It is a vehicle for disseminating new knowledge in cardiology and cardiovascular science internationally, and in particular serves as the primary venue for Canadian cardiovascular research findings and society guidelines. The journal publishes original reports of clinical and basic research related to cardiovascular medicine, as well as editorials, reviews, case reports, and articles on health outcomes, policy research, ethics, medical history, and political issues affecting clinical practice. doing. www.onlinecjc.ca(Opens in new tab/window)

About the editor-in-chief

Editor-in-Chief Stanley Nuttel, MD, is the Paul David Professor of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal and Director of the Electrophysiology Research Program at the Montreal Heart Institute Research Center.

About the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS)

of C.C.S.(Opens in new tab/window) is the national voice of cardiovascular clinicians and scientists, representing more than 2,300 cardiologists, heart surgeons and other heart health professionals across Canada. By setting standards of excellence in heart health and care, building the knowledge and expertise of our heart teams, influencing policy and championing the heart health of all Canadians, we Promote people’s heart health. Learn more about CCS here. https://www.ccs.ca/ja(Opens in new tab/window).