Adults with ADHD ‘are living shorter lives than they should’, say researchers who analysed life expectancy in GP patient records.

The UK study found a reduction in life expectancy for men with diagnosed ADHD of between 4.5 and 9 years, and between 6.5 and 11 years for women.

It is likely to be a result of ‘modifiable risk factors’ as well as unmet support and treatment needs for both ADHD and co-occurring mental and physical health conditions, the team from University College London concluded.

The findings, reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry, were based on 30,029 adults across the UK with diagnosed ADHD was compared with 300,390 patients without the condition who were matched by age, sex, and GP practice.

But they noted the research was done in those who had been diagnosed with ADHD and may not apply to the much wider population of adults who the condition but no formal diagnosis.

The prevalence of ADHD in the patient records looked at was 0.32%, suggesting that only one in nine adults with the condition were diagnosed, the researchers said. It may mean that the overall life-expectancy found was higher than the average for all those with ADHD, they added.

Senior author, Professor Josh Stott, professor of ageing and clinical psychology at UCL, said: ‘It is deeply concerning that some adults with diagnosed ADHD are living shorter lives than they should.

‘People with ADHD have many strengths and can thrive with the right support and treatment. However, they often lack support and are more likely to experience stressful life events and social exclusion, negatively impacting their health and self-esteem.’

Study lead Dr Liz O’Nions, a research fellow at UCL, added that more of those who are diagnosed may have additional health problems compared to the average person with ADHD.

‘Therefore, our research may over-estimate the life expectancy gap for people with ADHD overall, though more community-based research is needed to test whether this is the case.’

She added: ‘It is crucial that we find out the reasons behind premature deaths so we can develop strategies to prevent these in future.’

Professor Philip Asherson, professor of molecular psychiatry at King’s College London, said: ‘This is an excellent and well conducted study that highlights the impact of higher mortality rates in ADHD on shorter life expectancy.

‘The precise causes of early death are not yet confirmed, but we know that ADHD is associated with higher rates of smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer among other health problems.

‘Adults with ADHD are more likely to engage in unhealthy habits such as binge eating or smoking, and risk-taking behaviour.

‘There may also be biological links with autoimmune and other physical health disorders.’

He added that services to support adults with ADHD and improve both physical and mental health outcomes lag behind those for other common conditions such as anxiety, depression, hypertension and obesity.

‘Of particular concern are limited access to diagnosis and treatment including psychosocial support.  Until this is addressed the shorter life expectancy demonstrated in this study is likely to continue.’

A version of this article was first published by our sister title Pulse