Health and Economic Outcomes in Children of Mothers with Treated and Untreated ADHD

Background: Data about health outcome in children born to mothers with neuro-developmental disorders is limited. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with burden of illness at family and societal levels.

Objective: To investigate health and economic outcomes in children born to women, who had been diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods: Medical data from all children born in the period from 1/01/2014 to 1/12/2016 were collected and linked to their mothers` medical records using electronic registry of Leumit Health Services. All women with diagnosis of ADHD were identified (n=504) and divided into two groups: those who purchased medications for at least 12 month after 18 years old and those who didn`t. A comparison group included children from other women, who had given birth during the same period (n=4290). Main outcomes were hemoglobin level, flu vaccinations; number of emergency room admissions and hospitalizations; length of hospital stays and total medical costs.

Results: Children born to mothers with diagnosed, but untreated, ADHD as compared to children born to mothers with treated ADHD or mothers without ADHD: had significantly lower hemoglobin level (10.5 vs.10.9 & 11.7, p<0.001) and flu vaccination rate(21.4% vs. 22.6% & 35.4%, p<0.001). They had higher rate of emergency room admissions (1.01 vs. 0.88 & 0.54, p<0.001) and hospitalizations (0.65 vs. 0.25 & 0.22, p<0.001). Their hospital stays were longer and medical costs higher.

Conclusions: Children of mothers with untreated ADHD had poor health and economic outcomes from the birth to the age of 3 years old.