Medical Alert Assistance Dogs for Addison’s disease, narcolepsy & PoTS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring and validating the use of Medical Alert Assistance Dogs for people with Addison’s disease, narcolepsy and Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS).
IRAS ID
302864
Contact name
Nicola Rooney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Medical Alert Assistance Dogs (MAADs) detect and alert to subtle changes in odour that occur prior to a medical event and assist patients with Addison’s disease (episodes of acute low cortisol), narcolepsy (episodes of "sleep attacks") and postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) (episodes of lightheadedness and collapse) who have limited awareness of medical events associated with their condition. For these patients, this early alert is invaluable in managing their condition, allowing them to administer medication, seek assistance and/or take safety precautions when warned of an impending medical event by their dog. There has yet to be a study measuring and validating the use of MAADs for these conditions.
This study will objectively assess whether trained MAADs reliably and accurately alert their owners prior to a low cortisol event (Addison’s), narcoleptic sleep attack or PoTS episode. We will use reports of symptoms, salivary cortisol concentration (Addison’s disease), heart rate and blood pressure (PoTS) and objective video analysis of dog behaviour to study their dog's effectiveness. We will also compare volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in sweat and breath samples collected during episodes and control periods to determine likely volatile profiles to which the dogs are responding. We will additionally evaluate how having a MAAD has influenced the everyday life, wellbeing, and quality of life of owners via interview.
Participants recruited through MDD will be clients with Addison’s disease, narcolepsy or PoTS that have a MAAD or are in the process of being assigned one. Data collection will take place in participants own homes for up to 2 weeks at a time, where they will be video recorded, collect sweat, breath and saliva samples and record symptoms. Video and salivary sample analysis will take place at the University of Bristol and analysis of samples for VOCs will take place at Cardiff University.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0219
Date of REC Opinion
20 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion