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The Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: An Umbrella Review of Global Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

G. Ayano
Affiliation:
1Curtin University, Perth, Australia
L. Tsegay
Affiliation:
2Aksum University, Aksum
Y. Gizachew
Affiliation:
3Bethel Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
S. Demelash
Affiliation:
4Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
R. Alati*
Affiliation:
1Curtin University, Perth, Australia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

From recent epidemiological studies to emerging epidemiological evidence, it becomes evident that numerous primary studies have investigated the prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents. Additionally, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have explored this subject. The objective of this umbrella review is to offer a robust synthesis of evidence derived from these systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Objectives

To conduct a comprehensive umbrella review that synthesizes emerging epidemiological evidence regarding the prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents, drawing insights from numerous primary studies as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, PsychINFO, and Scopus, to identify relevant studies. The study was preregistered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023389704). To assess the quality of these studies, we utilized the Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). We employed an inverse variance-weighted random-effects meta-analysis to combine prevalence estimates from the included studies.

Results

The final analysis incorporated thirteen meta-analytic systematic reviews, encompassing 588 primary studies and a total of 3,277,590 participants. A random-effects meta-analysis of these studies revealed that the global prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents stood at 8.0% (95% CI: 6.0%–10%). Notably, the prevalence estimate was twice as high in boys (10%) compared to girls (5%). Among the three subtypes of ADHD, the inattentive type (ADHD-I) emerged as the most prevalent, followed by the hyperactive type (ADHD-HI) and the combined type (ADHD-C).

Conclusions

The comprehensive umbrella review findings emphasize the high prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents, with a notable gender disparity, wherein boys are twice as likely to be affected compared to girls. These results underscore the urgency of prioritizing prevention, early identification, and treatment strategies for ADHD in children and adolescents.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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