Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35637502›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2022

Age within schoolyear and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Scotland and Wales.

Michael Fleming, Amrita Bandyopadhyay, James S McLay, David Clark, Albert King, Daniel F Mackay, Ronan A Lyons, Kapil Sayal, Sinead Brophy, Jill P Pell

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Michael Fleming *Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK. michael.fleming@glasgow.ac.uk.
Amrita Bandyopadhyay *Administrative Data Research Wales, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
James S McLayDepartment of Child Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZG, UK.
David ClarkPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, EH12 9EB, UK.
Albert KingScotXed, Scottish Government, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ, UK.
Daniel F MackayInstitute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK.
Ronan A LyonsAdministrative Data Research Wales, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
Kapil Sayal *Division of Psychiatry & Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
Sinead Brophy *Administrative Data Research Wales, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
Jill P Pell *Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/S003800/1Medical Research Council MR/S037608/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies suggest an association between age within schoolyear and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Scotland and Wales have different school entry cut-off dates (six months apart) and policies on holding back children. We aim to investigate the association between relative age and treated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in two countries, accounting for held-back children.

methodsRoutine education and health records of 1,063,256 primary and secondary schoolchildren in Scotland (2009-2013) and Wales (2009-2016) were linked. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationships between age within schoolyear and treated ADHD, adjusting for child, maternity and obstetric confounders.

resultsAmongst children in their expected school year, 8,721 (0.87%) had treated ADHD (Scotland 0.84%; Wales 0.96%). In Wales, ADHD increased with decreasing age (youngest quartile, adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19-1.46) but, in Scotland, it did not differ between the youngest and oldest quartiles. Including held-back children in analysis of their expected year, the overall prevalence of treated ADHD was 0.93%, and increased across age quartiles in both countries. More children were held back in Scotland (57,979; 7.66%) than Wales (2,401; 0.78%). Held-back children were more likely to have treated ADHD (Scotland OR 2.18, 95% CI 2.01-2.36; Wales OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.21-2.31) and 81.18% of held-back children would have been in the youngest quartile of their expected year.

conclusionsChildren younger within schoolyear are more likely to be treated for ADHD, suggesting immaturity may influence diagnosis. However, these children are more likely to be held back in countries that permit flexibility, attenuating the relative age effect.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityChildEducational StatusFemaleHumansPregnancyPrevalenceSchoolsWalesAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorderChildrenData linkageEducationRelative ageSchool

Identifiers

PMID35637502
PMCPMC9150337

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.