Abstract
BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a common disorder not only in children, but also in the adult population. Similarly, asthma also has a substantial prevalence among adults. Previous studies concerning a potential relationship between ADHD and asthma have not presented consistent results.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 594 adult patients diagnosed with ADHD, compared with 719 persons from the general population. Information was collected between 1997 and 2005 using auto-questionnaires rating past and present symptoms of ADHD, co-morbid conditions, including asthma, and work status.ResultsThe prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in the ADHD patient group compared to the controls, 24.4% vs. 11.3% respectively (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.89-3.44), and controls with asthma scored higher on ratings of both past and present symptoms of ADHD. Female ADHD patients had a significantly higher prevalence of asthma compared to male ADHD patients (30.9% vs. 18.2%, OR = 2.01, CI 1.36-2.95), but in controls a slight female preponderance was not statistically significant. In both ADHD patients and controls, having asthma was associated with an increased prevalence of symptoms of mood- and anxiety disorders.ConclusionsThe present findings point to a co-morbidity of ADHD and asthma, and these patients may represent a clinical and biological subgroup of adult patients with ADHD.
Highlights
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a common disorder in children, and in the adult population
The proportions of ADHD patients reporting a life-time history of depression and/or anxiety, bipolar disorder and alcohol problems were significantly increased compared to the controls, and scores on all the self report scales for psychiatric symptoms were substantially higher in the ADHD patient group than in the control group
All these differences between ADHD patients and controls were similar for males and females
Summary
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a common disorder in children, and in the adult population. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder in children causing substantial problems for those afflicted [1,2,3]. Like ADHD asthma is perceived as a disease of childhood, with a significant adult prevalence and incidence [12,13,14]. Both asthma [15] and ADHD [16] have a clear genetic component.
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