Premature Death More Common Among ADHD Patients

New findings published in The Lancet show that ADHD may increase the risk of premature death.

This neurodevelopmental disorder is estimated to affect 11 percent of American children between the ages of 4 to 17, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Numerous risk factors can put some at a higher risk factor for ADHD, including the following, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic: having a blood relative (parent or sibling) with the mental health disorder, exposure to environmental toxins, including such elements as lead that's found in paint and pipes from old buildings, maternal drug use, alcohol use or smoking during pregnancy or premature birth.

"It's common for people with ADHD to be impulsive and act without thinking, which can lead to accidents," said Stephen Faraone, author of an accompanying journal editorial, via Health Day. 

Doctors at Aarhus University followed about 2 million people at the Danish national registry, which consisted of more than 32,000 people with ADHD. Participants were followed from their first birth to 2013, or the equivalent of 32 years of age.

Findings revealed via a follow-up that 107 of the participants with ADHD had died. The study showed that those living with ADHD were about twice as likely to die prematurely as counterparts who didn't suffer without the disorder, which was also the case even when adjusting for factors such as family history of psychiatric disorders, age and sex.

From the 107 with ADHD who died, scientists were only able to confirm the causes of death in 80 cases. Fifty-four died of "unnatural causes" with 78 percent being accidents. 

The longer an individual lived, the higher their risk of dying prematurely. For example, those who were diagnosed at 18 or older were four times as likely to die early when compared to those without ADHD at the same age.

Previous research has also shown that ADHD oftentimes comes with other behavioral health issues that disrupt mood and increase irritability, anger issues or defiant behavior or conduct.

"ADHD has huge impacts on everyday life, and people with ADHD and their families deserve that this is acknowledged," concluded Dr. Soren Dalsgaard, a senior researcher at Aarhus University.