title: Accidental injuries are more common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder compared with their non-affected siblings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accidental injuries are a leading cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common childhood disorder characterized by behaviours such as hyperactivity and impulsivity, is a risk factor for accidental injuries. Previous retrospective studies suggested that children with ADHD have an increased injury rate, but controlled prospective studies are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective case-control study of 29 school-aged children with ADHD and their same-sex, similarly aged, non-ADHD-affected siblings. All diagnoses were made by a paediatric neurologist according to DSM-IV criteria and the children and their parents underwent a structured psychiatric interview and a battery of complementary assessments including: Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), ADHD Rating scale and Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). The parents were contacted by telephone every 3 months during a 9-month follow-up period and all injuries requiring medical attention were recorded. Incidence of injuries was compared between the pairs of siblings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up period, a total of 13 injuries in 13 children with ADHD were reported, compared with six injuries in six children from the control group (Z=-2.11, P < 0.05). ADHD severity and subtype, CBCL, DCDQ and IQ scores were not predictive of injury risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School-aged children with ADHD are at higher risk of accidental injuries than their non-ADHD siblings, regardless of ADHD subtype, co-morbid psychiatric conditions, developmental co-ordination problems and environmental/familial conditions. Awareness and adequate education of parents and caregivers of children with ADHD concerning the increased injury risks are thus warranted.
authors: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. yuvalshilon@gmail.com
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Shilon
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Pollak
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Aran
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Shaked
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Gross-Tsur
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control