Trends in the Prevalence and Incidence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Adults and Children of Different Racial and Ethnic Groups

Key Points Question What are recent trends in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prevalence and incidence among racial and ethnic groups in the United States? Findings In this cohort study of 5 282 877 patients who identified as African American or black, Native American, Pacific Islander, Latino or Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, Asian American, or other and were cared for at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, the annual adult ADHD prevalence and incidence rates significantly increased over a 10-year period for every race/ethnicity except Native American; rates remained highest among white patients throughout. The presence of other psychiatric diagnoses was found to be a major factor associated with likelihood of adult ADHD diagnosis. Meaning The prevalence and incidence of adults diagnosed with ADHD are increasing, although pronounced racial/ethnic inequalities in rates of diagnosis remain.