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MEDTECH Monitoring becomes even more crucial considering the increasing number of individuals engaging in long-term use of ADHD medication.
A recent case-control study published in JAMA Psychiatry has shed new light on the potential cardiovascular risks associated with long-term use of ADHD medications. This comprehensive study, conducted in Sweden, draws on extensive data to explore the correlation between ADHD medication usage and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence, offering valuable insights for clinicians and healthcare professionals in their treatment strategies.
Key Points:
- The study analyzed individuals in Sweden aged 6 to 64 years diagnosed with ADHD or dispensed ADHD medication between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2020.
- Data was sourced from the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register.
- A total of 278,027 participants with ADHD were included, with 10,388 having developed CVD.
- A median age of 34.6 years and a 40.8% female representation were noted in both the ADHD and control groups.
- The study used incidence density sampling for matching participants with controls.
- Longer cumulative use of ADHD medications was linked to an increased risk of CVD.
- The increased risk was quantified as follows: 0 to ≤1 year (AOR, 0.99); 1 to ≤2 years (AOR, 1.09); 2 to ≤3 years (AOR, 1.15); 3 to ≤5 years (AOR, 1.27); and >5 years (AOR, 1.23).
- Each additional year of ADHD medication use correlated with a 4% increased risk of CVD.
- The risk increase was more pronounced in the first three years of medication use.
- Similar patterns were observed in both youth and adults.
- Potential under-ascertainment of CVDs in the registers and exposure misclassification were noted as limitations.
- The study underscores the importance of consistent cardiovascular monitoring for individuals on long-term ADHD medication.
According to the CDC, approximately 6.1 million American children were diagnosed with ADHD as of 2016. This highlights the vast number of individuals potentially impacted by long-term medication use.
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