RT Journal
A1 Getahun D, Jacobsen SJ, Fassett MJ, Chen W, Demissie K, Rhoads GG
T1 REcent trends in childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
JF JAMA Pediatrics
JO JAMA Pediatrics
YR 2013
FD March 1
VO 167
IS 3
SP 282
OP 288
DO 10.1001/2013.jamapediatrics.401
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/2013.jamapediatrics.401
AB Objective 
                  To examine trends in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by race/ethnicity, age, sex, and median household income.Design 
                  An ecologic study of trends in the diagnosis of ADHD using the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health plan medical records. Rates of ADHD diagnosis were derived using Poisson regression analyses after adjustments for potential confounders.Setting 
                  Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena.Participants 
                  All children who received care at the KPSC from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2010 (n = 842 830).Main Exposure 
                  Period of ADHD diagnosis (in years).Main Outcome Measures 
                  Incidence of physician-diagnosed ADHD in children aged 5 to 11 years.Results 
                  Rates of ADHD diagnosis were 2.5% in 2001 and 3.1% in 2010, a relative increase of 24%. From 2001 to 2010, the rate increased among whites (4.7%-5.6%; relative risk [RR] = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.4), blacks (2.6%- 4.1%; RR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.9), and Hispanics (1.7%-2.5%; RR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.5-1.7). Rates for Asian/Pacific Islander and other racial groups remained unchanged over time. The increase in ADHD diagnosis among blacks was largely driven by an increase in females (RR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-2.3). Although boys were more likely to be diagnosed as having ADHD than girls, results suggest the sex gap for blacks may be closing over time. Children living in high-income households were at increased risk of diagnosis.Conclusions 
                  The findings suggest that the rate of ADHD diagnosis among children in the health plan notably has increased over time. We observed disproportionately high ADHD diagnosis rates among white children and notable increases among black girls.