Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as a Risk Factor for COVID-19 Infection

• Published in: Journal of attention disorders Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 985 - 990
• Main Authors: Cohen, Herman Avner, Gerstein, Maya, Yaniv, Noga, Richenberg, Yael, Jacobson, Eyal, Marton, Shoval, Hoshen, Moshe, Shkalim Zemer, Vered
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2022
• Subjects: Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Child; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; ADHD; prevalence; community healthcare center; psychostimulants; children; coronavirus-2019; lockdown
• ISSN: 1087-0547; 1557-1246; 1557-1246
• DOI: 10.1177/10870547211044217

Objective: To postulate that ADHD is a potential risk factor for COVID-19 infection; to evaluate the COVID-19 risk factor on drug-treated ADHD subjects. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on ADHD subjects aged 6 to 18 years in Israel, who had undergone at least one COVID-19 test during the study period. Results: Of the 64,409 subjects included in the study, 6,207 (9.64%) had at least one positive COVID-19 test result, 13,300 (20.65%) were diagnosed with ADHD, and of whom 1,751 (13%) had purchased at least two ADHD medications 3 months prior to COVID-19 testing and were defined as being medically treated. Medically-treated ADHD subjects had a significantly lower likelihood to be infected with COVID-19 than untreated subjects. Conclusion: Untreated ADHD patients seem to constitute a risk group for COVID-19 infection. Drug treatment ameliorates risk of spreading COVID-19 infection within the pediatric population and secondary spread in the general population.