One in 16 US adults estimated to have ADHD, with more than half diagnosed in adulthood
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Key takeaways:
- An estimated 6% of U.S. adults have ADHD.
- Medication shortages affected 71.5% of those taking a stimulant medication for ADHD.
- Almost half of these adults reported ever using ADHD telehealth services.
Researchers estimated that 6%, or one in 16, U.S. adults had an ADHD diagnosis, more than half of whom were diagnosed in adulthood, according to findings published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Such information on the prevalence and treatment of ADHD in U.S. adults is needed to help develop clinical care guidelines and regulatory decision-making, according to the researchers.
“No national data exist on ADHD treatment in U.S. adults, and national prevalence estimates of current ADHD in adults rely on data from 2003,” Brooke S. Staley, PhD, of the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and Epidemic Intelligence Service, and colleagues wrote in the report.
“Timely data are needed to develop clinical guidelines and guide decision-making for policies, including regulation concerning stimulant prescription and telehealth access for ADHD in U.S. adults,” they added.
To estimate the prevalence of ADHD diagnosis and treatment among U.S. adults, Staley and colleagues analyzed National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System data from 7,046 interviews of U.S. adults that were completed in October 2023 and November 2023. Of them, 444 (55.8% men; 70.4% white) had a current ADHD diagnosis, 55.9% of whom received their diagnosis at age 18 years or older.
Based on those data, the researchers estimated that 15.5 million U.S. adults — or one in 16 — had a current ADHD diagnosis in 2023.
The results further showed that 35.2% of adults with ADHD were receiving both medication and counseling or behavioral treatment during the survey period, whereas 36.5% were not receiving any treatment at all.
During the 12 months prior to the survey period, 50.4% of adults with ADHD were prescribed medication to treat their condition; of them, 33.4% reported taking prescription stimulant ADHD medication and 5.9% reported taking nonstimulant ADHD medication.
Among those who reported taking stimulant ADHD medication, 71.5% had difficulty getting their prescription filled due to the medication being unavailable.
Overall, 46% of surveyed adults with ADHD reported ever receiving ADHD-related telehealth services; of them, 8.9% received their diagnosis via telehealth only and 9.5% received their diagnosis via both in-person and telehealth visits.
Staley and colleagues acknowledged several study limitations, including the use of self-reported health data, which may be subject to recall and reporting biases.
“Public health professionals can use the findings from this report to better understand the prevalence of ADHD in adulthood, how adults obtain ADHD care, the potential gaps or delays in diagnosis and the magnitude of treatment needs,” they wrote. “As policies are currently developed and evaluated related to ADHD clinical care for adults, access to prescription stimulant medications and flexibilities related to telehealth, these results can guide clinical care and regulatory decision-making.”
Perspective
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The research suggests that approximately 6% of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with ADHD, which is higher than previous prevalence estimates. Further exploration into why we are seeing this increase is important. Is it due to a lack of consistent standards regarding ADHD diagnosis? Is our attention span getting worse? Are we overdiagnosing some while underdiagnosing others? More work needs to be done to reach a greater consensus on what qualifies as a thorough ADHD evaluation.
Further, the number of adults with ADHD who are not able to get their medications is especially concerning, given that undertreated ADHD can lead to academic and occupational problems as well as increased risk for auto accidents and other health problems.
My colleagues at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine and I recently conducted a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults that found that 25% suspected they may have undiagnosed ADHD. This study, along with our survey results, point out that many Americans are concerned about their ability to focus/pay attention. It also highlights concerns about the 13% who have not spoken to their doctor about their attention concerns. There is a lack of access to mental health care in many areas of the country. People may feel that it is not worth trying to get a diagnosis if they are unable to obtain treatment due to shortages.
Research answering the question regarding the cause of increasing concerns about attention from both those who are diagnosed and undiagnosed with ADHD is essential. Are we dealing with an increase in prevalence of ADHD or an increase in the perception of attention issues? Answering these questions can lead to appropriate planning and treatment standards that hopefully address medication shortages.
Reference:
Survey finds 25% of adults suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/mediaroom/pressreleaselisting/survey-finds-25-percent-of-adults-suspect-they-have-undiagnosed-adhd. Published Oct. 14, 2024. Accessed Oct. 22, 2024.
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