Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study

Introduction To ensure rational drug use, there is a need to continuously monitor the use of ADHD medication among children and adolescents. Objectives To describe the use of ADHD medication among Danish children and adolescents from 2010-2020. Methods Using the Danish national healthcare regist...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. Stoltz-Andersen, R. Wesselhoeft, M. Ernst, L. Rasmussen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002498/type/journal_article
_version_ 1797617336577949696
author M. Stoltz-Andersen
R. Wesselhoeft
M. Ernst
L. Rasmussen
author_facet M. Stoltz-Andersen
R. Wesselhoeft
M. Ernst
L. Rasmussen
author_sort M. Stoltz-Andersen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction To ensure rational drug use, there is a need to continuously monitor the use of ADHD medication among children and adolescents. Objectives To describe the use of ADHD medication among Danish children and adolescents from 2010-2020. Methods Using the Danish national healthcare registries, we extracted data on filled prescriptions of ADHD medication (including methylphenidate, atomoxetine, guanfacine, dexamphetamine, and lisdexamphetamine) among children (age 6-12 years) and adolescents (age 13-17 years) between 2010-2020. We examined the annual incidence rate and prevalence proportion of ADHD drug use, and the proportion of children and adolescents having an ADHD diagnosis when initiating ADHD medication. Results From 2010-2020, the incidence followed a u-shaped trend with an incidence rate of 4.9/1,000 children and 4.4/1,000 adolescents in 2010, decreasing to 3.2/1,000 children and 3.0/1,000 adolescents in 2013, and rising to 4.9/1,000 children and 4.8/1,000 adolescents in 2020. The prevalence for children showed a similar trend, shifting from 17/1,000 in 2010, to 15/1,000 in 2016, and peaking at 19/1,000 children in 2020. However, among adolescents the prevalence increased steadily from 19/1,000 in 2010 to 29/1,000 in 2020. 67% of children and 53% of adolescents initiating ADHD medication had an ADHD diagnosis. Conclusions After an initial decline in incidence rates of ADHD medication use among Danish children and adolescents, there has been a rise in use the last five years. The same trend applied for the prevalence among children, whereas the prevalence among adolescents increased steadily over the entire period. More than half of children and adolescents initiating ADHD medication were diagnosed with ADHD. Disclosure No significant relationships.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T07:53:26Z
format Article
id doaj.art-49de3cfcac5042d5900a6871c6ce9132
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0924-9338
1778-3585
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T07:53:26Z
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series European Psychiatry
spelling doaj.art-49de3cfcac5042d5900a6871c6ce91322023-11-17T05:06:09ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S82S8210.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.249Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide StudyM. Stoltz-Andersen0R. Wesselhoeft1M. Ernst2L. Rasmussen3University of Southern Denmark, Ist - Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy And Environmental Medicine, Odense M, DenmarkUniversity of Southern Denmark, Ist - Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy And Environmental Medicine, Odense M, DenmarkUniversity of Southern Denmark, Ist - Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy And Environmental Medicine, Odense M, DenmarkUniversity of Southern Denmark, Ist - Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy And Environmental Medicine, Odense M, Denmark Introduction To ensure rational drug use, there is a need to continuously monitor the use of ADHD medication among children and adolescents. Objectives To describe the use of ADHD medication among Danish children and adolescents from 2010-2020. Methods Using the Danish national healthcare registries, we extracted data on filled prescriptions of ADHD medication (including methylphenidate, atomoxetine, guanfacine, dexamphetamine, and lisdexamphetamine) among children (age 6-12 years) and adolescents (age 13-17 years) between 2010-2020. We examined the annual incidence rate and prevalence proportion of ADHD drug use, and the proportion of children and adolescents having an ADHD diagnosis when initiating ADHD medication. Results From 2010-2020, the incidence followed a u-shaped trend with an incidence rate of 4.9/1,000 children and 4.4/1,000 adolescents in 2010, decreasing to 3.2/1,000 children and 3.0/1,000 adolescents in 2013, and rising to 4.9/1,000 children and 4.8/1,000 adolescents in 2020. The prevalence for children showed a similar trend, shifting from 17/1,000 in 2010, to 15/1,000 in 2016, and peaking at 19/1,000 children in 2020. However, among adolescents the prevalence increased steadily from 19/1,000 in 2010 to 29/1,000 in 2020. 67% of children and 53% of adolescents initiating ADHD medication had an ADHD diagnosis. Conclusions After an initial decline in incidence rates of ADHD medication use among Danish children and adolescents, there has been a rise in use the last five years. The same trend applied for the prevalence among children, whereas the prevalence among adolescents increased steadily over the entire period. More than half of children and adolescents initiating ADHD medication were diagnosed with ADHD. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002498/type/journal_articlechildren and adolescentdrug utilizationnationwideadhd
spellingShingle M. Stoltz-Andersen
R. Wesselhoeft
M. Ernst
L. Rasmussen
Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study
European Psychiatry
children and adolescent
drug utilization
nationwide
adhd
title Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study
title_full Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study
title_fullStr Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study
title_full_unstemmed Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study
title_short Use of ADHD Medication Among Danish Children and Adolescents from 2010-2020 - A Nationwide Study
title_sort use of adhd medication among danish children and adolescents from 2010 2020 a nationwide study
topic children and adolescent
drug utilization
nationwide
adhd
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002498/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT mstoltzandersen useofadhdmedicationamongdanishchildrenandadolescentsfrom20102020anationwidestudy
AT rwesselhoeft useofadhdmedicationamongdanishchildrenandadolescentsfrom20102020anationwidestudy
AT mernst useofadhdmedicationamongdanishchildrenandadolescentsfrom20102020anationwidestudy
AT lrasmussen useofadhdmedicationamongdanishchildrenandadolescentsfrom20102020anationwidestudy