
This study highlights the urgent need for awareness, wider diagnosis and improved access to effective treatments to reduce the health inequalities faced by this population. The data shows that adults diagnosed with ADHD are living shorter lives than expected, and this is likely related to modifiable risk factors, such as a higher prevalence of physical and mental health conditions, and a lack of appropriate support.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a persistent pattern of symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that negatively impact important aspects of life, such as academic performance, career and social relationships.
To be diagnosed, these symptoms must last for at least six months and have a significant impact.
ADHD was first recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1968 under the name “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood”.
Although traditionally associated with children, studies show that up to 90% of people diagnosed with ADHD in childhood continue to have symptoms into adulthood. Globally, an estimated 2.8% of adults have ADHD, according to an analysis of 20 representative mental health studies from different countries.

Despite the existence of effective treatments that can significantly improve quality of life, research in the UK has revealed that many adults who display clear features of ADHD go undiagnosed. As a result, they do not receive adequate support or necessary interventions, which can have serious consequences across a range of aspects of their lives.
People with ADHD face inequalities and adversities across a range of areas of their lives. They are more likely to have poor educational attainment, difficulty holding down a job, financial problems and even be subject to discrimination.
In addition, the rate of interaction with the criminal justice system and the likelihood of experiencing homelessness are also higher in this group.
In terms of health, adults with ADHD often face a higher risk of physical and mental health problems. For example, there is a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders and substance abuse, including alcohol and tobacco.
This group also has a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

Research suggests that ADHD is associated with an increased risk of early mortality. A meta-analysis that pooled data from eight studies with a total of 396,488 participants found that people with diagnosed ADHD are more than twice as likely to die prematurely compared to those without the disorder (hazard ratio: 2.13).
Data from Quebec, Canada, where the prevalence of diagnosed ADHD among young people reached 12.6% in 2017/2018, showed that the difference in mortality may be smaller, but the risk is still significant.
Older research, such as that from the 1958 British Birth Cohort, indicates that children with marked “overreactive” characteristics (such as restlessness, hostility and anxiety) were 1.6 times more likely to die by age 46 compared to children with average characteristics.
Until now, no studies had used mortality data to estimate life expectancy in adults with diagnosed ADHD, especially in the United Kingdom. Calculating years of life lost is an important metric because it conveys the impact of the disorder in a way that is clear and understandable to the general public.
This approach has been widely used in awareness campaigns and in the media to highlight health inequalities. This study sought to fill this gap by estimating the average years of life lost associated with ADHD in adults, based on all-cause mortality data between 2000 and 2019.

Researchers from Cambridge University, UK, conducted a matched cohort study using data from 792 primary care practices in the UK, covering a total of 9,561,450 people who contributed data between 2000 and 2019.
Among the participants, 30,039 people aged 18 or over who had received a formal diagnosis of ADHD were identified. To allow for a fair comparison, each individual with ADHD was matched with 10 participants without the diagnosis, for a total of 300,390 individuals in the control group.
The matching was based on criteria such as age, sex and the primary care practice attended.
To calculate mortality rates and estimate life expectancy, the researchers used two methods: Poisson regression, which looks at the relationship between an ADHD diagnosis and the risk of death at different ages, and life tables, a statistical tool that projects life expectancy based on observed mortality patterns in different groups.
Of the study participants, 0.32% of adults in the cohort were diagnosed with ADHD. This equates to approximately one in nine adults in the UK with ADHD characteristics.
The results showed that diagnoses of physical and mental health problems were more frequent in the group of adults with diagnosed ADHD compared to the control group.
The analysis revealed a significant reduction in life expectancy for people with diagnosed ADHD. On average:
1- Men with diagnosed ADHD lived 6.78 years less compared to men in the general population.
2- Women with diagnosed ADHD lived 8.64 years less compared to women in the general population.
Data show that adults diagnosed with ADHD are living shorter lives than expected, and this is likely related to modifiable risk factors, such as a higher prevalence of physical and mental health conditions, as well as a lack of adequate support.

Life expectancy for participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stratified by sex, compared with matched comparison participants without an ADHD diagnosis.
The study highlighted the importance of early and ongoing interventions to address both ADHD and associated conditions.
While the research provides valuable insights, it is important to note that the results only reflect data from people diagnosed with ADHD. The vast majority of adults with ADHD in the UK are undiagnosed, and the full impact of the disorder on life expectancy may be even greater.
This study highlights the urgent need for awareness, wider diagnosis and improved access to effective treatments to reduce the health inequalities faced by this population.
READ MORE:
Life expectancy and years of life lost for adults with diagnosed ADHD in the UK: matched cohort study.
O’Nions E, El Baou C, John A, et al.
The British Journal of Psychiatry. Published online 2025:1-8.
doi:10.1192/bjp.2024.199
Abstract:
Nearly 3% of adults have attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although in the UK, most are undiagnosed. Adults with ADHD on average experience poorer educational and employment outcomes, worse physical and mental health and are more likely to die prematurely. No studies have yet used mortality data to examine the life expectancy deficit experienced by adults with diagnosed ADHD in the UK or worldwide. This study used the life-table method to calculate the life-expectancy deficit for people with diagnosed ADHD using data from UK primary care. A matched cohort study using prospectively collected primary care data (792 general practices, 9 561 450 people contributing eligible person-time from 2000–2019). We identified 30 039 people aged 18+ with diagnosed ADHD, plus a comparison group of 300 390 participants matched (1:10) by age, sex and primary care practice. We used Poisson regression to estimate age-specific mortality rates, and life tables to estimate life expectancy for people aged 18+ with diagnosed ADHD. Around 0.32% of adults in the cohort had an ADHD diagnosis, ~1 in 9 of all adults with ADHD. Diagnoses of common physical and mental health conditions were more common in adults with diagnosed ADHD than the comparison group. The apparent reduction in life expectancy for adults with diagnosed ADHD relative to the general population was 6.78 years (95% CI: 4.50 to 9.11) for males, and 8.64 years (95% CI: 6.55 to 10.91) for females. Adults with diagnosed ADHD are living shorter lives than they should. We believe that this is likely caused by modifiable risk factors and unmet support and treatment needs in terms of both ADHD and co-occurring mental and physical health conditions. This study included data from adults with diagnosed ADHD; the results may not generalise to the entire population of adults with ADHD, the vast majority of whom are undiagnosed.
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