Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and premature mortality: A narrative review of the literature
- 1Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, CF24 4HQ Cardiff, UK
- 2Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a higher risk of premature mortality compared to the general population, although reported risks vary. The aim of this paper was to review studies that have examined associations between premature mortality and ADHD and consider factors that could explain variation in risk estimates. A literature search was carried out using online databases (PMC, OVID, and Scopus library) to identify relevant articles. We then considered: sample ascertainment, sample size, method of diagnosing ADHD and age at diagnosis, sex, age range for mortality data, hazard ratio/ mortality rate ratio (95% confidence interval), sample size, and cause of death, as factors that could explain variation in risk estimates. We focus on nine papers that report risk of all-cause mortality in population samples via hazard ratios, odds ratios, and mortality ratios, which varied from 1.07 to 4.44. Higher risk estimates were found in studies that followed up to older ages and among individuals who were female, diagnosed with ADHD later, and had psychiatric comorbidity. Most follow up found non-natural causes (e.g. suicide, accidents) to be the most prevalent cause of death but studies with longer follow up suggested that non-natural causes may be more important in older individuals. Evidence suggests that ADHD medication reduces the risk of premature mortality but findings are clearer for stimulant than for non-stimulant medication. Clinicians need to be aware that females with ADHD, those with a delayed ADHD diagnosis and who show psychiatric comorbidity are at highest risk of premature mortality. However prescribing ADHD medication may reduce this risk.
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BibTeX
@article{rahali2026attention,
title = {{Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and premature mortality: A narrative review of the literature}},
author = {Yasmin Rahali and Charlotte A. Dennison and Anita Thapar and Ajay K. Thapar},
journal = {European Child \& Adolescent Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1007/s00787-026-03156-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03156-7},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and premature mortality: A narrative review of the literature
AU - Yasmin Rahali
AU - Charlotte A. Dennison
AU - Anita Thapar
AU - Ajay K. Thapar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/06
JO - European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DO - 10.1007/s00787-026-03156-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03156-7
AB - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a higher risk of premature mortality compared to the general population, although reported risks vary. The aim of this paper was to review studies that have examined associations between premature mortality and ADHD and consider factors that could explain variation in risk estimates. A literature search was carried out using online databases (PMC, OVID, and Scopus library) to identify relevant articles. We then considered: sample ascertainment, sample size, method of diagnosing ADHD and age at diagnosis, sex, age range for mortality data, hazard ratio/ mortality rate ratio (95% confidence interval), sample size, and cause of death, as factors that could explain variation in risk estimates. We focus on nine papers that report risk of all-cause mortality in population samples via hazard ratios, odds ratios, and mortality ratios, which varied from 1.07 to 4.44. Higher risk estimates were found in studies that followed up to older ages and among individuals who were female, diagnosed with ADHD later, and had psychiatric comorbidity. Most follow up found non-natural causes (e.g. suicide, accidents) to be the most prevalent cause of death but studies with longer follow up suggested that non-natural causes may be more important in older individuals. Evidence suggests that ADHD medication reduces the risk of premature mortality but findings are clearer for stimulant than for non-stimulant medication. Clinicians need to be aware that females with ADHD, those with a delayed ADHD diagnosis and who show psychiatric comorbidity are at highest risk of premature mortality. However prescribing ADHD medication may reduce this risk.
SN - 1018-8827
SN - 1435-165X
ER -