Acute coronary syndromes occurring while driving: frequency and patient characteristics

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may occur during any human activity, including driving. The objectives of this study were to report the frequency of ACS occurring while driving, clarify patient characteristics, and analyze the behavioral patterns of drivers who sustained ACS. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective observational study was conducted using prospectively acquired data. Among 1605 ACS patients admitted between January 2011 and December 2016, 65 (60 men/5 women) patients who sustained ACS while driving were identified. Clinical variables were compared between these 65 patients and 1540 patients who sustained ACS while performing other activities. Furthermore, multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with ACS. RESULTS: The frequency of ACS occurring while driving was 4.0% (65/1605). Compared with patients who sustained ACS while performing other activities, those who sustained ACS while driving were significantly younger (66.2 ± 13.0 vs. 57.5 ± 12.2 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to smoke (34.2 vs. 60.0%, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that age (OR 0.961; 95% CI 0.940–0.982) and current smoking (OR 1.978; 95% CI 1.145–3.417) were associated with ACS. While 55 drivers (85%) who remained conscious after ACS could seek medical attention without causing accidents, the other 10 (15%) who sustained cardiac arrest caused accidents. CONCLUSIONS: The association between current smoking and ACS occurring while driving suggests that smoking cessation is advised for smokers who drive from the standpoint of driving safety. We expect that prospective studies be conducted to verify our findings and identify individuals at risk for ACS while driving. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12199-017-0689-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.