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. 2018 Sep 14;23(13):1610-1623.
doi: 10.1177/1087054718799367. Print 2019 Nov 1.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Work Productivity of Adults With ADHD: A U.K. Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Alain Joseph  1 , Charlotte E Kosmas  2 , Chloe Patel  2 , Helen Doll  2 , Philip Asherson  3
Affiliations

Health-Related Quality of Life and Work Productivity of Adults With ADHD: A U.K. Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Alain Joseph et al. J Atten Disord. .

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult ADHD.

Method: U.K. residents aged 18 to 55 years with ADHD and no major mental health comorbidities completed an online survey of disorder history, the EuroQoL 5-Dimensions 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health (WPAI:GH). ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) score was assessed by telephone.

Results: In total, 233 participants completed the study (mean age 32.6 years; 65.2% women). Mean ( SD) ADHD-RS-IV total score, EQ-5D utility, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were 43.5 (7.88), 0.74 (.21), and 69.8 (17.76), respectively. Mean ( SD) WPAI:GH scores indicated that health problems caused 45.7% (29.9) overall work impairment and 45.8% (28.9) impairment in regular daily activities. Greater work and activity impairment were both significantly independently associated with lower utility after adjusting for age, gender, and somatic comorbidities.

Conclusion: Adult ADHD impairs HRQoL, work productivity, and regular daily activities.

Keywords: ADHD; EQ-5D; WPAI:GH; adult; health-related quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. Alain Joseph is a former employee of Shire and may hold stock/stock options. Dr. Charlotte E. Kosmas is an employee of ICON. Ms. Chloe Patel was an employee of ICON during the conduct of the study. Dr. Helen Doll is an employee of ICON. The King’s College London research support account for Professor Philip Asherson received honoraria for consultancy to Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Shire; educational/research awards from Eli Lilly, GW Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Qbtech, Shire, and Vifor Pharma; and honoraria for speaking at sponsored events for Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Shire. Professor Asherson is supported by generous grants from the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry, and from South London and Maudsley National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Participant flow. Note. DSM-5 = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; EQ-5D-5L = 5-level 5-dimensions EuroQol questionnaire; WPAI:GH = Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health; ADHD-RS-IV = ADHD Rating Scale-IV. aPresented as a checklist: Asperger’s syndrome, autism, schizophrenia, psychosis, severe depression/mania, drug addiction, severe anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, none of the above. bFor example, incorrect telephone number provided, participant did not respond when called on several occasions.
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