Increased Risk for Mortality Seen for Persons With Autism, ADHD

MONDAY, Feb. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The risk for mortality is increased significantly for persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online Feb. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Ferrán Catalá-López, Ph.D., from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues, conducted a systematic review to examine the risk for mortality among persons with ASD or ADHD and their first-degree relatives. Data were included from 27 studies, with 642,260 individuals.
The researchers found that all-cause mortality was increased for persons with ASD and for those with ADHD (rate ratios, 2.37 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.97 to 2.85] and 2.13 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.13 to 4.02], respectively) compared with the general population. Increased deaths from natural causes and from unnatural causes were seen among persons with ASD (rate ratios, 3.80 [95 percent confidence interval, 2.06 to 7.01] and 2.50 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.49 to 4.18], respectively). No significant increase was seen for deaths from natural causes (rate ratio, 1.62; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.89 to 2.96), but deaths from unnatural causes were significantly higher than expected among persons with ADHD (rate ratio, 2.81; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.73 to 4.55).
"Understanding the mechanisms of these associations may lead to targeted strategies to prevent avoidable deaths in high-risk groups of children and young people as an approach to improve public health," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Related Posts
Brain Bleeds Up in Patients With COVID-19 Treated for Ischemic Stroke
THURSDAY, Nov. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with acute ischemic stroke...
Los Angeles Passes Country’s Strictest Vaccine Mandate
THURSDAY, Oct. 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- One of the strictest COVID-19 vaccine...
~30 Percent of Seniors Have Sequelae After Acute SARS-CoV-2
THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Thirty-two percent of adults aged 65...
Teething Symptoms and How to Help Your Baby Get Relief
TUESDAY, April 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- When babies start teething, the pain...