People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a significantly higher risk of premature mortality, but prescription medications for the condition are associated with reduced death rates, according to a large systematic review and meta-analysis.
Researchers from institutions across the United Kingdom reviewed 19 studies published between 2012 and 2025, examining mortality patterns related to ADHD or its treatment. The studies were conducted in populations from the United States, Canada, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK, Finland and Denmark, collectively spanning more than 15.9 million participants.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that people with ADHD had a 70% higher hazard of death from any cause compared with those without the condition. The risk of death from suicide was 90% higher among people with ADHD, whilst death from unintentional or intentional injury was 50% higher. Even mortality from natural causes was 30% higher in the ADHD population.
The analysis also found that prescription medications used to treat ADHD were associated with a lower risk of death from any cause. The study did not distinguish between different medications, though stimulants are the most commonly prescribed treatments for the condition.
The researchers noted substantial variation between studies, potentially related to factors such as gender balance in study populations, cultural attitudes and healthcare services across countries, and changes in ADHD diagnosis and management over time.
The authors emphasised that the pooled estimates represent average associations across diverse populations rather than universally applicable figures. The findings reinforce the importance of supporting people with ADHD in managing health risks and addressing structural determinants of poor health that disproportionately affect this population.
Source: ADHD and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open (2026).
