The risk of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder among children with congenital heart disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

• Published in: Child : care, health & development Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. e13174 - n/a
• Main Authors: Tang, Jiapeng, Ou, Jun, Chen, Yige, Li, Liuxuan, Liu, Hanjun, Sun, Mengting, Luo, Manjun, Zhong, Taowei, Wang, Tingting, Wei, Jianhui, Chen, Qian, Qin, Jiabi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Analysis; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Children; Congenital diseases; Congenital heart disease; Early intervention; Heterogeneity; Medical screening; Meta-analysis; Moderators; Reference Groups; Risk assessment; Sensitivity analysis; Side effects; Systematic review; congenital heart disease; meta-analysis; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; systematic review
• ISSN: 0305-1862; 1365-2214
• DOI: 10.1111/cch.13174

Background Although current treatments are effective in dealing with congenital heart disease (CHD), non‐cardiac comorbidities such as attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have received widespread attention. The purpose of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to assess the risk of ADHD associated with CHD. Methods The literature search was carried out systematically through eight different databases by the end of September 2022. Either a fixed‐ or a random‐effects model was used to calculate the overall combined risk estimates. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed by the Cochran Q test and the I2 statistic. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were used to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity. Results Eleven studies were included in this study, which involved a total of 296 741 participants. Our study showed that the children with CHD were at a significantly increased risk of ADHD compared with the reference group (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 2.18–4.08). The results were moderately heterogeneous. These factors including study design, geographic region and study quality were identified as the first three of the most relevant heterogeneity moderators by subgroup analyses. Sensitivity analysis yielded consistent results. There was no evidence of publication bias. Conclusions The present study suggests that CHD children have a significantly higher risk of ADHD when compared with those without CHD. Early identification and intervention of ADHD is important to reduce its symptoms and adverse effects; therefore, clinicians should increase screening for ADHD in children with CHD and intervene promptly to reduce its effects whenever possible.