All-cause mortality was 5.85 per 10,000 person–years among people
with ADHD, compared with 2.21 per 10,000 person–years in people without ADHD. The risk of death
among people with ADHD was more than double that in the general population (adjusted mortality rate
ratio [MRR]=2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70 to 2.50, p<0.0001).
They then give the mortality rates for those diagnosed with ADHD another disorder or substance misuse issues:
Age at diagnosis of ADHD was associated with mortality, with the risk of death highest among people
diagnosed in adulthood (adjusted MRR=4.25, 95% CI 3.03 to 5.78). Mortality among people with ADHD
was also affected by comorbid oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder (adjusted MRR=2.17,
95% CI 1.33 to 3.31) and by coexisting substance misuse (adjusted MMR=5.63, 95% CI 3.69 to 8.16).
Among people without these comorbid conditions, mortality was higher in girls and women with ADHD
(adjusted MRR=2.85, 95% CI 1.56 to 4.71) than in boys and men (MRR=1.27, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.76).
The part I found interesting here, that they don't seem to mention elsewhere in this article, is that the mortality rate for males with ADHD but without the other disorders is actually lower than their general population numbers (2.07 general population vs 1.27 for males without one of those issues). They actually seem to completely ignore it:
“Even if these complications did not develop, ADHD was still a risk factor for mortality. This could well be
because the core problem of impulsiveness is a cause of accidents, and accidents were the major cause
of death.
I'm going by the adjusted mortality rate ratio number. If I'm reading this wrong, please let me know.
