Asthma in Patients with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Abstract

Background Asthma symptoms can interrupt daily activities, disturb sleep, and increase the risk of a child having an attention deficit or irritability, which also are symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the association between ADHD and asthma. This study investigates the possible correlation between asthma and ADHD. Methods We retrieved data on 221,068 pediatric patients from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database in 2005, and calculated the prevalence and risk factors of allergic diseases among ADHD patients. Results The prevalence of asthma in the ADHD group, compared with the control group, was 4.3 fold higher in the age 12 to 17 subgroup (95% CI, 1.71 to 10.6), 1.5-fold higher in males (95% CI, 1.05 to 2.03), and 1.6-fold higher for children living in urban areas (95% CI, 1.12 to 2.28). Multivariate logistic regression models showed the odds ratio of asthma for children with ADHD was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.95) as compared with children without ADHD. Conclusions Pediatric ADHD was associated positively with asthma, but the underlying mechanisms require further clarification.