In a follow-up study to the Antiarrhythmics versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) clinical trial, researchers surveyed the driving habits and experiences of 758 people who had taken part in the original study. All had experienced severe life-threatening irregularities of their heart rhythm.

Within a year, 88% of the patients who were drivers before their illness had returned to the road -- more than half within 3 months and over three-quarters in 6 months. While driving,

• 2% had a fainting episode.
• 11% had dizziness or palpitations that necessitated stopping the vehicle.
• 22% had dizziness or palpitations that did not require them to stop their vehicle.
• 8% of those with implanted cardioverters received a shock.

Further, 55 patients had an accident. Calculated as a percent per patient year based on 1,619 patient years of follow-up, the accident rate was 3.4% per patient year. That's less than half the annual accident rate of 7.1% in the general U.S. driving population.

So the answer to our question appears to be yes, it is safe for people who have been treated for severe arrhythmias to drive. But check with your doctor if you have any questions about your own readiness.

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