title: Association between ADHD drug use and injuries among children and adolescents.
abstract: To study the association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug use and the incidence of hospitalization due to injuries. A random sample of 150,000 persons (0-18 years) was obtained from the Dutch PHARMO record linkage system. An ADHD medication cohort as well as an up to six age/sex/index date sampled control cohort with no history of ADHD drug use was formed. Differences in incidence of hospitalization due to injuries were stratified for age and sex and compared prior, during and after exposure on ADHD drugs. The overall incidence of hospital admissions for injuries was two times higher in the ADHD medication cohort [incidence rate ratios (IRR) 2.2 (95 % CI 1.6-2.9)]. The incidence rate for injuries during exposure to ADHD drugs was lower in the exposed period compared to the period prior to ADHD drug use, although the difference was not statistically significant [IRR 0.68 (95 % CI 0.29-1.60)]. The relative risk for injuries was almost five times higher in the ADHD medication cohort among those who concomitantly used other psychotropics [IRR 4.8 (95 % CI 1.4-16.9)]. Risk for injuries was highest in 12-18 years olds. Children and adolescents using ADHD medication showed a twofold risk for hospital admissions for injuries. ADHD drug use might diminish the increased injury risk, but still overall risk is higher than in age/sex sampled children and adolescents without treatment with ADHD drugs. Use of ADHD and concomitant psychotropics increases the risk for injuries compared to only ADHD drug use.
authors.affiliation: Youth Division, Altrecht, Institute for Mental Health, Nieuwe Houtenseweg 2, 3524 SH, Utrecht, The Netherlands, e.van.den.ban@altrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Ban
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Souverein
authors.forename: Willemijn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Engeland
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swaab
authors.forename: Toine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Egberts
authors.forename: Eibert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heerdink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs