Overview
- A JAMA Network Open meta‑analysis published Monday pooled 19 longitudinal studies with about 15.9 million participants and found ADHD was associated with a 71% higher risk of death from any cause (HR 1.71).
- The excess risk was concentrated in suicide (HR 1.89), unintentional or intentional injury (HR 1.55), and natural‑cause deaths such as cardiovascular and metabolic disease (HR 1.27).
- Pooled data from three studies suggested people with ADHD who took medication had about a 25% lower all‑cause mortality (HR 0.75), but authors stressed this result is preliminary and based on limited observational evidence.
- The review’s findings are constrained by substantial heterogeneity across studies and by their observational design, leaving open the possibility of residual confounding and confounding by indication that prevent causal claims.
- Authors and commentators say the results point to concrete steps for public health: close diagnostic gaps, expand equitable access to evidence‑based care and run targeted research to test whether treatment reduces the higher mortality risk.