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. 2017 Mar 1:13:643-651.
doi: 10.2147/NDT.S126438. eCollection 2017.

Trend, characteristics, and pharmacotherapy of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a nationwide survey in Taiwan

Yu-Shian Cheng  1 , Yu-Chiau Shyu  2 , Sheng-Yu Lee  3 , Shin-Sheng Yuan  4 , Chun-Ju Yang  5 , Kang-Chung Yang  6 , Tung-Liang Lee  7 , Liang-Jen Wang  8
Affiliations

Trend, characteristics, and pharmacotherapy of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a nationwide survey in Taiwan

Yu-Shian Cheng et al. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. .

Abstract

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults may result in functional impairment warranting clinical interventions. However, few studies have investigated the diagnosis and treatment rates of adult ADHD in non-Caucasian ethnic groups. This study used nationwide population-based data to investigate the rate of diagnosis, associated characteristics, and pharmacological treatment for adult ADHD in Taiwan.

Methods: Adults (age ≥18 years) newly diagnosed with ADHD (n=5,397) between January 2000 and December 2011 were enrolled from the National Health Insurance database in Taiwan. All patients were monitored until December 31, 2011. Patients who received treatment with immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH), osmotic release oral system-methylphenidate (OROS-MPH), and atomoxetine (ATX) were analyzed.

Results: The cumulative prevalence of adult ADHD was 0.028%, and the incidence increased 10.9-fold from 2000 to 2011. The male to female ratio was 1.16, and 74.9% of the patients had the inattentive type. Overall, 55% of the patients received drug therapy for ADHD, and the average treatment duration was 478.3 days. Of the total patients, 50.4%, 13.3%, and 1.7% were prescribed with IR-MPH, OROS-MPH, and ATX, for a mean duration of 453.9, 327.7, and 161.4 days, respectively.

Conclusion: This population-based study showed an increasing trend in the diagnosis rate of adult ADHD; however, this rate is still low compared with Western countries. Approximately 45% of the adult patients with ADHD never received medication for their ADHD. Continuous efforts are needed to increase public awareness of adult ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; comorbidity; drug adherence; epidemiology; gender difference; non-Caucasian.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sex distribution among three age groups in adult ADHD patients in Taiwan. Abbreviations: ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; y, years.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Different durations of medication treatment among three age groups in adult ADHD patients in Taiwan. Abbreviations: ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; y, years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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