Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study

IntroductionAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a significant portion of the population, is commonly managed with stimulant medications. These medications, while effective, have been associated with thermoregulatory dysfunction and an in...

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Main Authors: Samrawit Zinabu, Huda Gasmelseed, Noah Wheaton, Fikirte Girma, Christian Wong, Sair Ahmad Tabraiz, Ayesha Mubasher, Aaron Mack, Patrice Lexima, Ozair Qazi, Ahmad Mohammed, Aseem Sood, Miriam Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1509385/full
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author Samrawit Zinabu
Huda Gasmelseed
Noah Wheaton
Fikirte Girma
Christian Wong
Sair Ahmad Tabraiz
Ayesha Mubasher
Aaron Mack
Patrice Lexima
Ozair Qazi
Ahmad Mohammed
Aseem Sood
Miriam Michael
Miriam Michael
author_facet Samrawit Zinabu
Huda Gasmelseed
Noah Wheaton
Fikirte Girma
Christian Wong
Sair Ahmad Tabraiz
Ayesha Mubasher
Aaron Mack
Patrice Lexima
Ozair Qazi
Ahmad Mohammed
Aseem Sood
Miriam Michael
Miriam Michael
author_sort Samrawit Zinabu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a significant portion of the population, is commonly managed with stimulant medications. These medications, while effective, have been associated with thermoregulatory dysfunction and an increased risk of heat-related adverse events. The current study sought to compare the incidence of such events in ADHD patients receiving stimulant medications with those not on these treatments.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing de-identified electronic medical records from a Global Research Network. The study population comprised ADHD patients on stimulant medication aged 6-24 years, with a comparison group of ADHD patients not receiving stimulant medications. Patients were followed from the date of first cohort inclusion (index event) for one year to track heat-related illnesses, including dehydration, hyperthermia, heat stroke, and other heat-related conditions. Propensity score matching was employed to balance baseline characteristics (age, gender) between cohorts. Risk ratios, odds ratios, and hazard ratios were calculated to assess the incidence of heat-related illnesses between groups. Statistical analysis was performed on the TriNetX platform, with survival analysis conducted via Kaplan-Meier estimates.ResultsAnalysis revealed a decreased risk of heat-related illnesses in the stimulant medication group, with a risk ratio of 0.559(95% CI: 0.485, 0.644). The mean number of events was also lower in the stimulants medication group (p=0.028). Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated a higher probability of remaining free from heat-related illnesses in the stimulant group over a one-year period, with a statistically significant difference (log-rank test, χ² = 93.035, p < 0.0001).DiscussionThese results suggest that stimulant medications may be associated with a reduced risk of heat-related illnesses in ADHD patients, potentially contributing to better overall outcomes in this population. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and to confirm these findings across larger and more varied patient populations.
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spelling doaj-art-c6dcaa73c6fe40309c9c1d8bf6408c092025-08-20T02:52:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-12-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.15093851509385Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database studySamrawit Zinabu0Huda Gasmelseed1Noah Wheaton2Fikirte Girma3Christian Wong4Sair Ahmad Tabraiz5Ayesha Mubasher6Aaron Mack7Patrice Lexima8Ozair Qazi9Ahmad Mohammed10Aseem Sood11Miriam Michael12Miriam Michael13Department of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesCardiovascular Department, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Lahore, PakistanDepartment of Psychiatry, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaDepartment of Orthopedics, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United StatesIntroductionAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a significant portion of the population, is commonly managed with stimulant medications. These medications, while effective, have been associated with thermoregulatory dysfunction and an increased risk of heat-related adverse events. The current study sought to compare the incidence of such events in ADHD patients receiving stimulant medications with those not on these treatments.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing de-identified electronic medical records from a Global Research Network. The study population comprised ADHD patients on stimulant medication aged 6-24 years, with a comparison group of ADHD patients not receiving stimulant medications. Patients were followed from the date of first cohort inclusion (index event) for one year to track heat-related illnesses, including dehydration, hyperthermia, heat stroke, and other heat-related conditions. Propensity score matching was employed to balance baseline characteristics (age, gender) between cohorts. Risk ratios, odds ratios, and hazard ratios were calculated to assess the incidence of heat-related illnesses between groups. Statistical analysis was performed on the TriNetX platform, with survival analysis conducted via Kaplan-Meier estimates.ResultsAnalysis revealed a decreased risk of heat-related illnesses in the stimulant medication group, with a risk ratio of 0.559(95% CI: 0.485, 0.644). The mean number of events was also lower in the stimulants medication group (p=0.028). Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated a higher probability of remaining free from heat-related illnesses in the stimulant group over a one-year period, with a statistically significant difference (log-rank test, χ² = 93.035, p < 0.0001).DiscussionThese results suggest that stimulant medications may be associated with a reduced risk of heat-related illnesses in ADHD patients, potentially contributing to better overall outcomes in this population. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and to confirm these findings across larger and more varied patient populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1509385/fullattention deficit hyperactivity disorderheat-related illnessesheat strokeglobal warmingcentral nervous system stimulants
spellingShingle Samrawit Zinabu
Huda Gasmelseed
Noah Wheaton
Fikirte Girma
Christian Wong
Sair Ahmad Tabraiz
Ayesha Mubasher
Aaron Mack
Patrice Lexima
Ozair Qazi
Ahmad Mohammed
Aseem Sood
Miriam Michael
Miriam Michael
Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study
Frontiers in Psychiatry
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
heat-related illnesses
heat stroke
global warming
central nervous system stimulants
title Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study
title_full Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study
title_fullStr Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study
title_full_unstemmed Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study
title_short Stimulant medications effects in heat-related illness in ADHD patients: a large database study
title_sort stimulant medications effects in heat related illness in adhd patients a large database study
topic attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
heat-related illnesses
heat stroke
global warming
central nervous system stimulants
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1509385/full
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