Researchers from the Karolinska Institute and Örebro University in Sweden found that adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely than those without the disorder to develop a variety of cardiovascular diseases. The results, which were recently published in the journal World Psychiatry, highlight the need of monitoring the cardiovascular health of ADHD patients.

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, with a worldwide prevalence of roughly 2.5 percent in adults. It often coexists with other physical and mental disorders, some of which have been linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there hasn’t been as much focus on whether ADHD is independently linked to overall and specific cardiovascular diseases. [1]

Figure 1. Adult ADHD Linked to a Greatly Increased Risk of Numerous Heart Diseases

Figure 1 shows in the current study, the researchers sought to unmask the correlation between ADHD and some 20 different cardiovascular diseases when separated from other known risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, smoking, sleep problems and mental disorders.

The findings build on national registry data of more than five million Swedish adults, including some 37,000 people with ADHD. After an average 11.8 years of follow-up, 38 percent of individuals with ADHD had at least one diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, compared with 24 percent of those without ADHD. [2]

The researchers found that cardiovascular risk factors such as heavy smoking, obesity, diabetes, sleep problems, lower educational attainment, and psychiatric conditions were more prevalent in individuals with ADHD. Yet controlling for these cardiovascular risk factors only slightly weakened the association between ADHD and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Moreover, excluding individuals with ADHD who were using medications for ADHD or other mental health conditions also did not influence the strength of the association between ADHD and cardiovascular disease risk. [3]

Only Association Confirmed, Not Cause

While the study was an important one because of its size and the fact that it was able to confirm a higher risk of cardiovascular disease among those with ADHD, it was not able to prove that ADHD was the cause of such health issues. Instead the study merely confirmed that there is an association between ADHD and cardiovascular risk. [4]

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/adult-adhd-linked-to-a-greatly-increased-risk-of-numerous-heart-diseases/
2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220915165319.htm
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adults-with-adhd-may-be-twice-as-likely-to-develop-cardiovascular-diseases#ADHD-and-cardiovascular-risk
4. https://www.health.com/adhd-cardiovascular-disease-risk-6747053

Cite this article:

Hana M (2023), Adult ADHD Linked to a Greatly Increased Risk of Numerous Heart Diseases, AnaTechmaz ,pp.147