ADHD Linked to Higher All-Cause Mortality While ADHD Medication Lowers Mortality

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was associated with higher all-cause mortality and higher mortality from suicide, injury, and natural causes, and ADHD medication use was associated with lower all-cause mortality among people with ADHD, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis in JAMA Network Open.

The investigators searched 6 databases through July 2025 and included 19 studies published between 2012 and 2025, with more than 15.9 million participants in the US, Canada, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK, Finland, and Denmark. Most identified ADHD through diagnostic codes. Twelve studies contributed to random-effects meta-analyses.

Pooled across 9 studies, ADHD was associated with higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.71; 95% CI, 1.31-2.24). Hazards were about 1.9-fold higher for suicide, 1.5-fold for unintentional or intentional injury, and 1.3-fold for natural-cause death. In a pooled analysis of 3 studies of people with ADHD, medication use was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.87).

Heterogeneity was high for all-cause, suicide, and injury mortality but not for natural-cause mortality; the authors noted that all studies showed higher mortality in ADHD groups, suggesting differences in magnitude rather than direction. They cautioned that the medication finding rests on 3 studies, may reflect residual confounding and confounding by indication, and should not be interpreted as evidence of a causal protective effect. Other limitations included variation in covariate adjustment, predominantly male samples, and insufficient data for reliable subgroup analyses or meta-regression.

The authors concluded that the results reinforce the importance of targeted intervention and access to ADHD diagnosis and treatment across the lifespan, and said the pooled estimates should be interpreted as average associations across diverse populations rather than as universally applicable.

Source: Corrigan L, Heywood L, Stewart GR, et al. Mortality among people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(10):e2639448. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.39448