ADHD Pharmacotherapy and Mortality in Individuals With ADHD

This cohort study suggests that pharmacological treatment of a patients with ADHD increases their life expectancy by reducing unnatural deaths (suicides, homicides, MVAs, etc.). James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Importance: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with increased risks of adverse health outcomes including premature death, but it is unclear whether ADHD pharmacotherapy influences the mortality risk.

Objective: To investigate whether initiation of ADHD pharmacotherapy was associated with reduced mortality risk in individuals with ADHD.

Design, setting, and participants: In an observational nationwide cohort study in Sweden applying the target trial emulation framework, we identified individuals aged 6 through 64 years with an incident diagnosis of ADHD from 2007 through 2018 and no ADHD medication dispensation prior to diagnosis. Follow-up started from ADHD diagnosis until death, emigration, 2 years after ADHD diagnosis, or December 31, 2020, whichever came first.

Exposures: ADHD medication initiation was defined as dispensing of medication within 3 months of diagnosis.

Main outcomes and measures: We assessed all-cause mortality within 2 years of ADHD diagnosis, as well as natural-cause (eg, physical conditions) and unnatural-cause mortality (eg, unintentional injuries, suicide, and accidental poisonings).

Results: Of 148 578 individuals with ADHD (61 356 females [41.3%]), 84 204 (56.7%) initiated ADHD medication. The median age at diagnosis was 17.4 years (IQR, 11.6-29.1 years). The 2-year mortality risk was lower in the initiation treatment strategy group (39.1 per 10 000 individuals) than in the noninitiation treatment strategy group (48.1 per 10 000 individuals), with a risk difference of -8.9 per 10 000 individuals (95% CI, -17.3 to -0.6). ADHD medication initiation was associated with significantly lower rate of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.88) and unnatural-cause mortality (2-year mortality risk, 25.9 per 10 000 individuals vs 33.3 per 10 000 individuals; risk difference, -7.4 per 10 000 individuals; 95% CI, -14.2 to -0.5; HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.86), but not natural-cause mortality (2-year mortality risk, 13.1 per 10 000 individuals vs 14.7 per 10 000 individuals; risk difference, -1.6 per 10 000 individuals; 95% CI, -6.4 to 3.2; HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.05).

Conclusions and relevance: Among individuals diagnosed with ADHD, medication initiation was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality, particularly for death due to unnatural causes.

Author/s:

Lin Li, Nanbo Zhu, Le Zhang, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Brian M D'Onofrio, Isabell Brikell, Paul Lichtenstein, Samuele Cortese, Henrik Larsson, Zheng Chang

Preventing Firearm-Related Death and Injury

Brian Desmarais — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 19:32:12 +0000

Date Added:

June 5, 2019

Journal/Publication:

Annals of Internal Medicine

Publisher:

American College of Physicians

Publication Date:

June 4, 2019

Issue:

Volume:

170

URL:

Preventing Firearm-Related Death and Injury

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.7326/AITC201906040

Keywords

MeSH

A comprehensive summary of what we know about firearm-associated injuries and firearm safety to support physician-initiated patient education. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Deaths and injuries from firearms are significant public health problems, and clinicians are in a unique position to identify risk among their patients and discuss the importance of safe firearm practices. Although clinicians may be ill-prepared to engage in such discussions, an adequate body of evidence is available for support, and patients are generally receptive to this type of discussion with their physician. Here, we provide an overview of existing research and recommended strategies for counseling and intervention to reduce firearm-related death and injury.

Author/s:

Pallin, R., Spitzer, S.A., Ranney, M.L., Betz, M.E., Wintemute, G.J.