"The proportion of people in the UK on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication has tripled in the past decade, with a 20-fold increase among women aged 25 and over, a study shows. Researchers led by the University of Oxford examined electronic health records from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK to estimate the use of ADHD medication among adults and children aged three and above."
"Adult use increased substantially in all countries, particularly among women. In the UK, prevalence among people aged 25 and over increased from 0.01% in 2010 to 0.20% in 2023, with a more than 20-fold increase in women and 15-fold in men. Although ADHD medication use remained higher among males, the sex gap in treatment narrowed over time and with increasing age, the researchers said."
"The results also suggested a much lower rate of ADHD medication use compared with the estimated rate of ADHD itself, which is thought to affect about 8% of children and adolescents and 3% of adults globally, the researchers said. They said while it was true that not everyone with ADHD required medication, the findings suggested a substantial proportion may not be doing so."
ADHD medication prevalence increased across Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK between 2010 and 2023. The UK prevalence rose from 0.12% to 0.39% for all ages; the Netherlands rose from 0.67% to 1.56%. Adult use rose substantially in all countries, with pronounced increases among women; UK prevalence for people aged 25+ grew from 0.01% to 0.20%, representing over 20-fold increase in women and 15-fold in men. The sex gap in treatment narrowed over time and with age. Measured medications included methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine. Medication use remains lower than estimated ADHD prevalence (about 8% in children, 3% in adults), suggesting many people with ADHD may not receive medication.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]