Studying treatment safety

Posted February 2, 2012

By Kathryn Sloniowski

Bachelor of Health Sciences student Melissa Yue has received funding from the Markin Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP) to study the effects that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications have on the blood pressure of children being treated for the condition.

“There have been some questions raised about whether or not certain medications are safe,” says Yue who is enrolled in the biomedical degree stream and currently holds a degree in biology.

The study is investigating how certain ADHD medications may affect hypertension in children−a health indicator that could be key to predicting future health problems. The study monitors the blood pressure of children diagnosed with and being treated for ADHD, using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor  (ABPM)– a type of machine that works continuously so as to get continuous and accurate blood pressure readings.

“We measure blood pressures for the entire 24 hours because that allows us to monitor patients throughout regular daily activities such as through sleep cycles and when they take their medication,” she says. “This way we can see if there’s any immediate response to the medication and things like that.”

An estimated two to five per cent of children are affected by ADHD and for families with a child diagnosed with the illness, finding a safe and effective treatment regime is priority. Several medications are used to treat the disorder, and while research regarding their safety has been done, many questions still remain.

“I hope to either provide relief for family physicians to be able to feel confident and able to prescribe these medications and to have studies that back up its safety, or not−whatever way the study will go,” says Yue, adding that the funding from the Markin USRP has helped to keep the project alive.

“Had I not received this award we probably would have been sitting ducks for awhile or not been able to approach the numbers that are significant for a research study,” she says.

Dr. Silviu Grisaru, Yue’s faculty mentor, says her discipline, organization and practical approach to research has been invaluable to the project.

“With Melissa’s help we were able to recruit more than half of the needed subjects and I am confident that we are on track to reach our target number of subjects,” he says, adding that the Markin USRP studentship has allowed the research to carry on in a timely fashion.

 “I am grateful to USRP for providing Melissa with this opportunity which in addition to helping us complete an important clinical study will also hopefully help Melissa achieve her endeavor of a career in health care.”