Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults

Anders Holt*, Jarl E. Strange, Peter Vibe Rasmussen, Nina Nouhravesh, Sebastian Kinnberg Nielsen, Caroline Sindet-Pedersen, Emil Loldrup Fosbøl, Lars Køber, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Gunnar H. Gislason, Patricia McGettigan, Morten Schou, Morten Lamberts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Incrementing numbers of patients treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) call for scrutiny concerning long-term drug-safety. Objectives: This study aims to investigate associations between long-term use of ADHD treatment and cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: Using nationwide registers, adult patients first-time initiated on ADHD treatment between 1998 and 2020 were identified. Exposure groups were prior users, <1 defined daily dose (DDD) per day, ≥1 DDD per day determined at start of follow-up, and 1 year after patients’ first claimed prescription. Outcomes were acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, and a composite of the above. Results: At start of follow-up, 26,357, 31,211, and 15,696 individuals were correspondingly categorized as prior users (42% female, median age: 30 years [Q1-Q3: 23-41 years]), <1 DDD per day (47% female, median age: 31 years [Q1-Q3: 24-41 years]), and ≥1 DDD per day (47% female, median age: 33 years [Q1-Q3: 25–41 years]), respectively. Comparing ≥1 DDD per day with prior users, elevated standardized 10-year absolute risk of stroke (2.1% [95% CI: 1.8%-2.4%] vs 1.7% [95% CI: 1.5%-1.9%]), heart failure (1.2% [95% CI: 0.9%-1.4%] vs 0.7% [95% CI: 0.6%-0.8%]), and the composite outcome (3.9% [95% CI: 3.4%-4.3%] vs 3.0% [95% CI: 2.8 %-3.2%]) was found—with corresponding risk ratios of 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0-1.5), 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3-2.2), and 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1-1.5). No apparent associations were found for acute coronary syndrome (1.0% [95% CI: 0.8%-1.2%] vs 0.9% [95% CI: 0.8%-1.0%]). Conclusions: Possible associations between elevated long-term cardiovascular risk and increasing dosage of ADHD treatment use in a young patient group should warrant further investigation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume83
Issue number19
Pages (from-to)1870-1882
Number of pages13
ISSN0735-1097
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation

Keywords

  • acute coronary syndrome
  • attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
  • attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment
  • drug-safety
  • heart failure
  • pharmacoepidemiology
  • stroke

Cite this