Journal article
Twenty-Year Trends in Diagnosed Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among US Children and Adolescents, 1997-2016
JAMA Network Open, Vol.1(4), e181471
08/31/2018
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.1471
PMCID: PMC6324288
PMID: 30646132
Abstract
This survey study uses data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine changes in the prevalence of diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in US children and adolescents over a 20-year period, from 1997 to 2016.
Importance: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in US children and adolescents. It is important to understand the most recent prevalence of ADHD and its long-term trends over the past decades.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of diagnosed ADHD and 20-year trends from 1997 to 2016 among US children and adolescents using nationally representative data.
Design, Setting, and Participants: In this population-based, cross-sectional survey study (National Health Interview Survey), surveys were conducted annually from 1997 to 2016. A total of 186 457 children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years from 1997 to 2016 were included in this analysis. Data were collected through in-person household interviews with a parent or guardian. The data analysis was performed in January 2018.
Main Outcomes and Measures Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosed by a physician or other health care professional.
Results: Among the included 186 457 children and adolescents (96 017 boys [51.5%], 51 350 Hispanic [27.5%], 91 374 non-Hispanic white [49.0%], 28 808 non-Hispanic black [15.5%], 14 925 non-Hispanic other race [8.0%]), 14 704 children and adolescents (7.9%; 10 536 boys [71.7%], 2497 Hispanic [17.0%], 9010 non-Hispanic white [61.3%], 2328 non-Hispanic black [15.8%], and 869 non-Hispanic other race [5.9%]) were reported to have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. The weighted prevalence of diagnosed ADHD was 10.2% (95% CI, 9.6%-10.8%) in 2015-2016. There were significant sex and racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diagnosed ADHD. The prevalence was 14.0% (95% CI, 13.1%-15.0%) in boys and 6.3% (95% CI, 5.6%-7.0%) in girls, 6.1% (95% CI, 5.2%-7.0%) in Hispanic individuals, 12.0% (95% CI, 11.1%-12.9%) in non-Hispanic white individuals, and 12.8% (95% CI, 11.0%-14.5%) in non-Hispanic black individuals. Over the 20-year period, the estimated prevalence of diagnosed ADHD in US children and adolescents increased from 6.1% in 1997-1998 to 10.2% in 2015-2016 (P for trend <.001). All subgroups by age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, and geographic regions showed a significant increase in the prevalence from 1997-1998 to 2015-2016.
Conclusions and Relevance: This study’s findings suggest that among US children and adolescents, the estimated prevalence of diagnosed ADHD increased significantly between 1997-1998 and 2015-2016. This study suggests that additional research is needed to better understand the cause of this apparent rise in prevalence.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Twenty-Year Trends in Diagnosed Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among US Children and Adolescents, 1997-2016
- Creators
- Guifeng Xu - University of IowaLane Strathearn - University of Iowa, Stead Family Department of PediatricsBuyun Liu - University of Iowa, EpidemiologyBinrang Yang - University of IowaWei Bao - University of Iowa, Epidemiology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JAMA Network Open, Vol.1(4), e181471
- DOI
- 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.1471
- PMID
- 30646132
- PMCID
- PMC6324288
- NLM abbreviation
- JAMA Netw Open
- ISSN
- 2574-3805
- eISSN
- 2574-3805
- Publisher
- American Medical Association
- Copyright
- © 2018 Xu G et al.
- Alternative title
- Twenty-Year Trends in Diagnosed ADHD Among US Children and Adolescents
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/31/2018
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Epidemiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
- Record Identifier
- 9983763491602771
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