On April 21, 2008, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a statement recommending children to be screened for cardiac conditions before and during treatment with stimulant drugs for Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This new statement may be viewed on the AHA Web site. 

Pediatric patients at Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents are routinely screened for heart health and risk factors as part of preventive pediatric care, and those with a concerning history and/or  concerning symptoms are referred for further evaluation as appropriate.

The approach recommended by the AHA is a cautious one. The AHA statement recommends using heart rate and blood pressure checks and screening for conditions with related cardiac symptoms before prescribing stimulant drugs for ADHD. It also recommends that each child diagnosed with ADHD be given an electrocardiogram (ECG) before these drugs are prescribed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend screening ECGs unless the patient's history, family history or the physical examination raises concerns. 

At Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents, children’s heart health has been evaluated as part of normal well-child care, including many of the items noted in the AHA statement. While electrocardiograms are certainly useful in diagnosing underlying heart conditions, they are not perfect and occasionally provide confusing results. At Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents, we will continue to monitor cardiovascular function via heart rate and blood pressure monitoring on all children who require medications for ADHD and utilize electrocardiogram monitoring on all children for whom there is an indication, in accordance with the AAP guidelines.

If you have specific concerns about your child and any medication they are on it is appropriate to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss your concerns.