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Attention‐ D eficit/ H yperactivity D isorder, P hysical H ealth, and L ifestyle in O lder A dults
Author(s) -
Semeijn Evert J.,
Sandra Kooij J.J.,
Comijs Hannie C.,
Michielsen Marieke,
Deeg Dorly J.H.,
Beekman Aartjan T.F.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.12261
Subject(s) - medicine , logistic regression , gerontology , demography , sociology
Objectives To increase insight into the effect of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) on health in general in older adults. Design Two‐phase sampling side‐study. Setting Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ( LASA ). Participants Two hundred twenty‐three randomly selected LASA respondents. Measurements Information was collected during home visits on physical health, medication use, and lifestyle characteristics in P hase 1 and on ADHD diagnosis in P hase 2. The associations between independant variables and ADHD were examined with linear and logistic regression analyses. Results The adjusted regression estimates of the linear regression analysis showed that the number of ADHD symptoms was positively associated with the presence of chronic nonspecific lung diseases ( CNSLD ) (B = 2.58, P = .02), cardiovascular diseases (B = 2.18, P = .02), and number of chronic diseases (B = 0.69, P = .04) and negatively associated with self‐perceived health (B = −2.83, P = .002). Lifestyle is not a mediator of the association between ADHD and physical health. Conclusion Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in older adults was associated with chronic physical illness and poorer self‐perceived health. Contrary to expectations, there were no associations between symptoms of ADHD and lifestyle variables.