SAIL blog. Published 03/10/2024
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects millions globally, yet the diagnosis and clinical care often differ significantly between males and females. We spoke to Dr. Joanna Martin, a Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University, to talk about the study she lead using data from the SAIL Databank to explore these disparities.
Why is this research needed?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition. It is less likely to be diagnosed in girls and women compared to boys and men. Also, girls are on average older than boys when they first get diagnosed with ADHD, but the reasons for this are not well understood. Further studies are needed to more deeply examine sex biases in current diagnostic practices and clinical care of ADHD.
What are the aims of this research?
We aimed to use routinely collected, nationwide primary and secondary healthcare records to investigate sex differences in diagnosis and clinical care in children and young people diagnosed with ADHD, particularly regarding recognition and treatment of other mental health conditions
How was SAIL Databank used in your research?
In this study, we examined Welsh national healthcare records from the SAIL databank. We compared young women and men diagnosed with ADHD. We focused on young people born between 1989 and 2013 who were living in Wales between 2000 and 2019. We looked at records from 16,458 children and young people diagnosed with ADHD. We investigated sex differences in neurodevelopmental conditions like autism or learning difficulties, mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, and medication prescriptions like antidepressant medications.
What is the anticipated impact of your research?
Our results suggest that young women with ADHD are experiencing barriers in timely access to clinical care and treatment for ADHD and co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions. Also, the presence of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression alongside ADHD may be partly overshadowing or masking recognition of ADHD. Clinical services need to improve timely access to clinical care, recognition and treatment for young women with ADHD.
Project partners and funders?
We collaborated with researchers in Swansea University and other researchers and clinicians in the UK (University of Cambridge, University of Nottingham, and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board). The project was funded by a Health and Care Research Wales Advanced Fellowship award.
Read more about the study here.