title: Association of atopic diseases and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta-analyses.
abstract: Over the last decades, the hypothesis has been raised that an atopic response could lead to the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study systematically reviews the observational cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that assessed the association between atopic disorders including asthma, atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, and ADHD in children and adolescents. For longitudinal studies, a weighted Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio of these associations was estimated. The majority of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies reported a statistically significant positive association. The meta-analysis of longitudinal studies revealed an overall weighted odds ratio for asthma of 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.44), 1.32 (95% CI 1.20-1.45) for atopic eczema, and 1.52 (95% CI 1.43-1.63) for allergic rhinitis. Heterogeneity of study data was low (I2: 0%, p=0.46 and p=0.64, respectively) for both studies examining asthma and eczema but substantial for rhinitis studies (I2: 82%, p=0.004). This current systematic review provides strong evidence that ADHD is associated with atopic diseases and that individuals have a 30% to 50% greater chance of developing ADHD compared to controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacoeconomics, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.van.der.schans@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Jurjen van der
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Schans
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacoeconomics, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rukiye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Çiçek
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, 8934 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tjalling W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacoeconomics, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eelko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pieter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Allergy; Asthma; Atopy; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Eczema; Rhinitis