EFFECT OF AUTOMOBILE DRIVING ON CATECHOLAMINE AND ADRENOCORTICAL EXCRETION

The effect of automobile driving on urinary catecholamine and 11-hydroxycorticosteroid (11-OHCS) excretion was studied in normal subjects and in patients with coronary artery disease. In both groups, excretion of both catecholamines and 11-OHCS was found to be significantly increased during a two hour period of driving compared with a two hour control period. These results suggest that automobile driving represents a mental stress. They also support our former conclusion that the electrocardiographic changes (ischemic type of S-T segment depression or frequent premature ventricular contractions, or both) which occur during driving in subjects with coronary artery disease are induced by this stress. © 1969.