According to a recent nationwide study reported in World Psychiatry, it was found that those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had a higher risk of cardiovascular illness than people without ADHD, even after controlling for cardiovascular risk factors.

Over 5.4 million Swedish adults born between 1941 and 1983 who had never been diagnosed with cardiovascular illness were included in the study. Over a follow-up period of 13 years, the researchers monitored the development of cardiovascular disease in the study group. They found that people with ADHD were more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than those without ADHD.

Adults with ADHD were twice as likely to develop cardiovascular diseases as those without it. Additionally, people with ADHD were more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors like heavy smoking, obesity, diabetes, sleep issues, poorer educational attainment, and psychiatric illnesses.

These findings imply that ADHD may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk without other factors. It highlights the significance of monitoring cardiovascular risks in people with ADHD and finding specialized interventions to lower such risks. (Medical News Today; September 22, 2022)

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adults-with-adhd-may-be-twice-as-likely-to-develop-cardiovascular-diseases#ADHD-and-cardiovascular-disease