The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis

Peige Song, Mingming Zha, Qingwen Yang, Yan Zhang, Xue Li, Igor Rudan, Peige Song, Mingming Zha, Qingwen Yang, Yan Zhang, Xue Li, Igor Rudan

Abstract

Background: Adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has recently attracted much attention, however, an up-to-date estimation on the prevalence of adult ADHD is lacking. In this study, we aimed to assess the global prevalence of adult ADHD in the general population through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: PubMed, Medline, Embase and PsycINFO were searched to identify relevant articles published from January 2000 onwards. Population-based studies that were conducted in the general adult population and quantified the prevalence of adult ADHD were included.

Results: The prevalence of persistent adult ADHD (with a childhood onset) and symptomatic adult ADHD (regardless of a childhood onset) both decreased with advancing age. By adjusting for the global demographic structure in 2020, the prevalence of persistent adult ADHD was 2.58% and that of symptomatic adult ADHD was 6.76%, translating to 139.84 million and 366.33 million affected adults in 2020 globally.

Conclusions: This study provides an up-to-date estimation of the global prevalence of both persistent and symptomatic adult ADHD. A well-defined strategy for diagnosing adult ADHD and large-scale investigations on the epidemiology of adult ADHD are needed.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: IR is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Global Health. To ensure that any possible conflict of interest relevant to the journal has been addressed, this article was reviewed according to best practice guidelines of international editorial organisations. The author completed the ICMJE Unified Competing Interest form (available on request from the corresponding author). The authors declare no competing interests.

Copyright © 2021 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart of study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age- and sex-specific prevalence of adult ADHD based on available data points from the included articles, with 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated prevalence and cases of adult ADHD in 2020, by age group.

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