We can’t even focus on staying alive.
People diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the UK are dying earlier than their peers, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University College London conducted a study and found that men with diagnosed ADHD have their life expectancy reduced by 6.78 years and women with the diagnosis have a it reduced by 8.64 years.
“It is crucial that we find out the reasons behind premature deaths so we can develop strategies to prevent these in the future,” lead researcher on the study Liz O’Nions said in a statement.
Scientists used the “life-table method” to analyze data from 30,000 adult residents of the United Kingdom — .032% of which were diagnosed with ADHD.
The data found that those with ADHD were more likely to have a variety of health conditions including, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
Those with ADHD also had a higher mortality rate than others.
“The evidence that people with diagnosed ADHD are living shorter lives than they should is extremely concerning, and highlights unmet support needs that require urgent attention,” the study, published Thursday in The British Journal of Psychiatry, said.
The paper also claims that 3% of the UK population has ADHD with most cases being undiagnosed — with only about 1 in 9 cases being addressed by doctors.
This limiting factor would prevent the data from being generalized to the entire population.
ADHD is a condition characterized by impulsiveness, restlessness, differences in time management, and lack of focus.
15 million Americans have ADHD, according to the Center for Disease Control.
