People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder face a higher risk of death from any cause, as well as from suicide, injuries and natural causes, compared with people without the condition, according to a study published Oct. 19 in JAMA Network Open.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool in England and University College London conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 15,920,970 participants. The studies were published between 2012 and 2025 and conducted in the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Taiwan, the U.K., Finland and Denmark. They examined all-cause and cause-specific mortality among people with ADHD. Twelve studies were included in the meta-analyses.
The researchers identified substantial variation across studies, particularly in estimates of all-cause mortality, suicide and injury-related deaths. Differences in study populations and methods may have contributed to the variation. Potential confounding factors also limit conclusions about whether ADHD or medication use directly affects mortality.
Here are five things to know:
1. People with ADHD had a 71% higher hazard of death from any cause compared with those without the condition.
2. People with ADHD had an 89% higher hazard of death by suicide compared with those without ADHD.
3. ADHD was associated with a 55% higher hazard of death from unintentional or intentional injuries.
4. People with ADHD had a 27% higher hazard of death from natural causes compared with those without the condition.
5. ADHD medication use was associated with a 25% lower hazard of death from any cause among people with ADHD compared with those who did not take medication. The finding is based on three studies, reflects an association and does not establish that medication reduces mortality.
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