September 30, 2024
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common birth defect where the heart’s blood vessels don’t develop normally before birth. This condition affects about 9% of all births worldwide, meaning about one in eleven babies is born with CHD. A recent analysis found that children with CHD have three times the risk of developing ADHD compared to children without CHD. However, that study only included five smaller studies, and almost 90% of the results varied between studies, making the findings less reliable. To improve on this, a team of researchers conducted a new, more thorough analysis.
The updated analysis combined eleven studies, involving nearly 300,000 people. This larger study also confirmed that children with CHD are three times more likely to develop ADHD than those without CHD. Importantly, there was no evidence that the results were biased by only including studies that showed stronger results ("publication bias"). The variation between the studies (heterogeneity) was lower in this new analysis, down to a more manageable 60%.
The researchers looked at two types of studies: cohort studies and cross-sectional studies, and found different levels of risk:
While both types of studies suggest a strong link between CHD and ADHD, cohort studies are more reliable because they track children over time, which helps researchers establish that CHD occurred before ADHD, suggesting a stronger cause-and-effect relationship. Both types of studies are observational. In any observational study, researchers look at data without actively changing or controlling anything in the study environment. Because they aren't conducting controlled experiments, it's possible that some important factors, known as "confounding factors," aren't being measured or accounted for. These factors can influence both the exposure (what the study is investigating, like CHD) and the outcome (ADHD) in a way that creates an association that is apparent but not rea.
Nine of the studies, which included almost 300,000 participants, adjusted their findings to account for "confounding factors"—things like age, gender, or other health conditions that could also influence whether a child develops ADHD. Even after making these adjustments, the risk of ADHD in children with CHD was still three times higher.
The researchers also found that the way ADHD was diagnosed—whether through clinical assessments or standardized symptom checklists—didn’t change the results much. Additionally, there was no major difference between studies done in the U.S. and those conducted in other countries, or between higher- and lower-quality studies.
The research team concluded that children born with congenital heart disease are at a much higher risk of developing ADHD than children without CHD. They suggested that children with CHD should be monitored more closely for ADHD as they grow up to ensure early intervention if needed.
Jiapeng Tang, Jun Ou, Yige Chen, Liuxuan Li, Hanjun Liu, Mengting Sun, Manjun Luo, Taowei Zhong, Tingting Wang, Jianhui Wei, Qian Chen, and Jiabi Qin, “The risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder among children with congenital heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” Child: Care, Health and Development (2024), vol. 50, issue 1, e13174, https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.13174.
Georges Choueiry, “Cohort vs Cross-Sectional Study: Similarities and Differences,” Quantifying Health, https://quantifyinghealth.com/cohort-vs-cross-sectional-study/.
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A recent study from Istanbul sheds light on how psychiatric admissions and diagnoses changed during the first few months of the pandemic compared to previous periods, offering critical insights for parents, clinicians, and policymakers.
This study, conducted by a team of researchers led by Ozalp Ekinci, examined psychiatric admissions among children and adolescents during 2019 and 2020.
By looking at diagnosis rates for various psychiatric conditions, the researchers aimed to pinpoint shifts in the mental health landscape as a direct response to the pandemic.
The analysis revealed several notable trends in psychiatric diagnoses among children and adolescents:
This study’s findings highlight some key takeaways that can guide mental health support efforts for children and adolescents:
As we continue to see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, studies like this one serve as important reminders of the unique mental health needs of young people. Supporting children and adolescents through proactive and targeted mental health services—especially during times of crisis—will be crucial to fostering resilience and well-being in future generations.
Adult ADHD has long been a subject of debate in the field of mental health, with previous estimates of its prevalence varying widely. To achieve a more precise understanding, an international team of researchers conducted a new umbrella review and meta-analysis, offering an updated estimate of adult ADHD rates worldwide.
This large-scale analysis combined five systematic reviews and meta-analyses, incorporating data from 57 unique primary studies. Altogether, the research synthesized findings from a pooled total of over 21 million participants. This comprehensive approach provided a more accurate estimate of the global prevalence of ADHD in adults.
The study concluded that the worldwide prevalence of adult ADHD is 3.1%, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 2.6% to 3.6%. This estimate falls within the range of earlier reports but provides a more targeted understanding of the rate at which ADHD affects adults globally.
The researchers described this prevalence rate as “relatively high.” They noted that it is only slightly lower than the estimated prevalence of major mental health conditions like schizophrenia (4%) and major depressive disorder (5%)—disorders that have historically received significant attention and resources worldwide.
Moreover, the prevalence of adult ADHD is higher than that of several other well-known mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder (1%), as well as anxiety disorders such as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and panic disorders.
This updated estimate emphasizes that ADHD is a significant global mental health concern in adults, comparable to or exceeding the prevalence of other disorders that are often more widely recognized. These findings underscore the need for greater awareness, research, and treatment options for adult ADHD, which is still frequently misunderstood or overlooked in the broader discourse of mental health.
By providing a clearer picture of how prevalent ADHD is in adult populations around the world, this study contributes valuable data that could shape future research, policy, and clinical approaches.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remains a prevalent condition among children and adolescents in the United States. A recent analysis based on the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC, provides an updated look at ADHD prevalence from 2018 to 2021. Here’s a closer look at what the data reveals.
The NHIS is an annual survey primarily conducted through face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. Telephone interviews are used as a substitute in cases where travel is impractical. For each family interviewed, one child aged 3-17 is randomly selected for the survey through a computer program. Over the four years studied (2018-2021), a total of 26,422 households with children or adolescents participated.
The analysis found that 9.5% of children and adolescents in the United States had been diagnosed with ADHD, based on reports from family members. However, the prevalence varied significantly with age:
The increase in ADHD diagnosis with age underscores the importance of monitoring children’s developmental needs as they progress through school and adolescence.
The survey revealed a notable difference in ADHD prevalence between genders, with 12.4% of males diagnosed compared to 6.6% of females—nearly a two-to-one gap. This aligns with previous research indicating that ADHD is more frequently diagnosed in boys than girls, though awareness of how ADHD presents differently across genders is growing.
Family income played a significant role in ADHD prevalence, particularly among lower-income groups:
This pattern suggests that socioeconomic factors might influence the diagnosis and management of ADHD, with lower-income families possibly experiencing greater barriers to early diagnosis or consistent treatment.
Geographic location also impacted ADHD rates. Prevalence was highest in the South (11.3%), followed by the Midwest (10%), the Northeast (9.1%), and significantly lower in the West (6.9%). These variations could reflect regional differences in healthcare access, diagnostic practices, or cultural attitudes towards ADHD.
Despite these variations in demographics, the overall prevalence of ADHD remained relatively stable across the study period from 2018 to 2021, showing no significant changes by year.
The findings from this updated analysis provide a clearer picture of ADHD’s prevalence across different demographic groups in the United States. They highlight the need for tailored approaches to diagnosis and care, taking into account factors like age, gender, income, and geographic location. With ADHD being a common condition affecting nearly 1 in 10 children, ongoing research and support for families are crucial to ensure that those with ADHD receive the care and resources they need.
This study reinforces the importance of awareness and early intervention, especially for families in underserved regions or those facing economic challenges. As clinicians and educators continue to support children with ADHD, understanding these demographic trends can help in creating more equitable access to diagnosis and treatment.
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