Summary Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) resulted in 1·03 million (95% UI 0·58–1·74) global DALYs in 2019. ADHD contributed to 0·8% (0·5–1·4) of DALYs for the aggregate of mental disorders.

Definition ADHD is an externalising disorder, incorporating disability from persistent inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. DSM-IV-TR (314.0, 314.01) and ICD-10 (F90) criteria were used.

Total sources
Incidence 2
Prevalence 172
Remission 14
Causes of death 0
Other 3
Table 1: Total sources used in GBD 2019 estimation
What is new in GBD 2019?
  • •There were new data sources added, including data for four locations where we previously had no data.
  • •A downward adjustment to estimates derived from small community samples was removed. Estimates not meeting representativeness were excluded.
  • •A downward adjustment to estimates not requiring survey informant agreement (eg, agreement between parent and child responses) was removed due to insufficient evidence to support its direction and magnitude.
  • •A downward adjustment to estimates requiring the impairment diagnostic criteria to be met was removed due to insufficient evidence to support its direction and magnitude.
Prevalence
Incidence
Deaths
YLLs
YLDs
DALYs
Cases
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
Cases
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
Deaths
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
YLLs
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
YLDs
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
DALYs
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
2019
Both Sexes
84·7
(62·5
to 111)
1131·9
(831·7
to 1494·5)
4·20
(2·77
to 5·94)
61·6
(40·7
to 87·2)
-–
-–
-–
-–
1·03
(0·585
to 1·74)
13·8
(7·9
to 23·4)
1·03
(0·585
to 1·74)
13·8
(7·9
to 23·4)
Females
23·2
(16·8
to 31·0)
631·0
(455·7
to 846·5)
1·08
(0·722
to 1·55)
32·9
(21·9
to 47·1)
-–
-–
-–
-–
0·281
(0·159
to 0·479)
7·7
(4·3
to 13·1)
0·281
(0·159
to 0·479)
7·7
(4·3
to 13·1)
Males
61·5
(45·4
to 80·9)
1611·6
(1184·8
to 2134·1)
3·11
(2·07
to 4·38)
88·6
(58·8
to 124·4)
-–
-–
-–
-–
0·749
(0·428
to 1·26)
19·6
(11·2
to 33·3)
0·749
(0·428
to 1·26)
19·6
(11·2
to 33·3)
Percentage change 2010-19
Both Sexes
1·4%
(–1·0
to 3·7)
–4·0%
(–6·2
to –1·9)
3·1%
(0·1
to 5·5)
–1·2%
(–4·1
to 1·1)
-–
-–
-–
-–
1·3%
(–1·1
to 3·8)
–4·0%
(–6·3
to –1·8)
1·3%
(–1·1
to 3·8)
–4·0%
(–6·3
to –1·8)
Females
0·6%
(–2·3
to 3·5)
–4·8%
(–7·7
to –2·3)
3·7%
(0·4
to 6·6)
–0·9%
(–4·0
to 1·9)
-–
-–
-–
-–
0·6%
(–2·7
to 3·5)
–4·9%
(–8·1
to –2·2)
0·6%
(–2·7
to 3·5)
–4·9%
(–8·1
to –2·2)
Males
1·7%
(–1·3
to 4·8)
–3·7%
(–6·5
to –0·8)
2·9%
(–0·7
to 6·3)
–1·2%
(–4·8
to 2·0)
-–
-–
-–
-–
1·6%
(–1·3
to 4·9)
–3·7%
(–6·6
to –0·8)
1·6%
(–1·3
to 4·9)
–3·7%
(–6·6
to –0·8)
Numbers in parentheses are 95% uncertainty intervals.
Table 2: Global prevalence, incidence, deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs in counts and age-standardised rates for both sexes combined, females, and males, 2019, with percentage change between 2010 and 2019
Deaths YLLs YLDs DALYs
1990 -- -- 78th 145th
2010 -- -- 81st 145th
2019 -- -- 84th 145th
Table 3: Rank among Level 3 causes for global deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs in 1990, 2010, and 2019, for both sexes combined
Figure 1: Composition of DALYs by YLDs for both sexes combined, 2019
No Legend
Figure 2: Age-standardised DALY rates for each location by SDI, both sexes combined, 2019
Figure 3: Composition of YLDs by age group and sex, 2019
No Legend
Figure 4: Age-standardised DALY rates (per 100 000) by location, both sexes combined, 2019