Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder increased the risk of injury: a population-based follow-up study

Aim To explore the frequency and risk for injury among children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Taiwan through a population-based study. Methods A total of 3616 subjects aged between four and twelve years diagnosed with ADHD were selected along with a comparison cohort comprising 18080 subjects. Each subject was individually traced for a three-year period from their index date to identify those subjects who subsequently received a diagnosis of injury. We used stratified Cox proportional hazards regressions to examine the three-year injury-free survival rates between the two cohorts. Results Of the subjects, the incidence rate of injury during the three-year follow-up period was 7.97 (95% CI=7.458.51) and 5.36 (95% CI=5.175.56) for the study and comparison cohort, respectively. After adjusting for geographic region, the hazard ratio (HR) of injury for subjects with ADHD was 1.64 (95% CI=1.501.79) that of comparison subjects. In addition, we found children with ADHD aged between four and 6years to demonstrate a greater HR (1.98, 95% CI=1.722.28) than those aged between seven and twelve (HR=1.46, 95% CI=1.311.63). Conclusions Children with ADHD appear to be at a higher risk for injury than children that are not diagnosed with ADHD.