Use of ADHD drugs in the Nordic countries: a population-based comparison study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare national use of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs between five Nordic countries.


METHODS
A population-based drug utilisation study based on nationwide prescription databases, covering in total 24 919 145 individuals in 2007. ADHD drugs defined according to the World Health Organization Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical classification system as centrally acting sympathomimetics (N06BA).


RESULTS
The 2007 prevalence of ADHD drug use among the total Nordic population was 2.76 per 1000 inhabitants, varying from 1.23 per 1000 in Finland to 12.46 per 1000 in Iceland. Adjusting for age, Icelanders were nearly five times more likely than Swedes to have used ADHD drugs (Prev.Ratio = 4.53, 95% CI: 4.38-4.69). Prevalence among boys (age 7-15) was fourfold the prevalence among girls (Prev.Ratio = 4.28, 95% CI: 3.70-4.96). The gender ratio was diminished among adults (age 21 +) (Prev.Ratio = 1.24, CI: 1.21-1.27).


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable national variation in use of ADHD drugs exists between the Nordic countries.
Zoëga
H
H
Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland. hez2@hi.is
Furu
K
K
Halldórsson
M
M
Thomsen
P H
PH
Sourander
A
A
Martikainen
J E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D012737:Sex Factors; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013566:Sympathomimetics