A Cross-Sectional Study of Commuting Habits Among Haemodialysis Patients in São Paulo

Every day there are over 100 transport-related deaths in Brazil. With a focus on São Paulo, the largest city in South America, this study examined the commuting habits of haemodialysis patients with the aim of providing recommendations to health and transportation authorities to enhance safety and quality of life for these patients. A traffic medicine specialist interviewed 439 haemodialysis patients (56.0% males). Before haemodialysis, 243 patients (55.3%) were actively driving for their commute, and after beginning treatment, 157 (64.6%) continued driving. Among those who continued driving, 19.8% held a motorcycle licence, 29.9% reported minor collisions, and 10.2% drove without a valid licence. On dialysis days, patients (non-drivers and former drivers), rely on cars and buses for transportation. Hypertension, diabetes, and sleep disorders are frequent comorbidities and can also negatively impact driving abilities. Authorities in both law enforcement and health need to recognise the increased risk of traffic crashes among this population and reconsider driver licensing standards accordingly.