Increased Frequency of Comorbid Conditions in Adults With ADHD

According to an analysis of Population and Multi-Generation Registers, adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often present with comorbid physical conditions, highlighting the importance of evaluating adults with ADHD for comorbid conditions. These findings were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Data from full-sibling and maternal half-sibling pairs born in Sweden between 1932 and 1995 (N=4,789,799) were included in this study. Diagnoses were obtained from the Swedish National Patient Register.

The cohort comprised 51% men, 87% of pairs were full siblings, the average age difference between siblings was 5.84 (SD, 4.04) years, and 1.29% had been diagnosed with ADHD.

After adjusting for birth year and gender, ADHD was associated with all physical conditions except rheumatoid arthritis (all P <.007). The conditions that were most strongly associated included alcohol-related liver disease (odds ratio [OR], 4.70), sleep disorders (OR, 4.62), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; OR, 3.24), epilepsy (OR, 2.99), fatty liver disease (OR, 2.94), and obesity (OR, 2.67).

For broader disease groups, ADHD was most strongly associated with conditions of the nervous (OR, 3.27), respiratory (OR, 2.49), musculoskeletal (OR, 2.03), and metabolic (OR, 2.02) systems.

Researchers using a quantitative genetic analysis of the association between ADHD and disorders of the nervous system found that genetic factors explained 28% and shared environment 13% of the correlation. For respiratory, musculoskeletal, and metabolic disorders, the genetic components explained 60% to 69% of the correlations.

It remains unclear what role ADHD medications may have on these patterns. Medications for ADHD were not approved for adult use in Sweden until 2008. Long-term outcomes from ADHD medication use during adulthood and the effect on comorbidities remains unclear.

These findings suggest that adults with ADHD were more likely than their full- or maternal half-sibling counterparts to have coexisting conditions, emphasizing the importance of evaluating individuals with ADHD for comorbidities. Additional study is needed to assess the biological mechanism linking ADHD with the respiratory, musculoskeletal, and metabolic systems.

Disclosure: Some authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors’ disclosures.

Reference

Du Rietz E, Brikell I, Butwicka A, et al. Mapping phenotypic and aetiological associations between ADHD and physical conditions in adulthood in Sweden: a genetically informed register study. Lancet Psychiatry. Published online July 6, 2021. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00171-1

This article originally appeared on Psychiatry Advisor