Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40629932›Full record

ArticleActa paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)2025

Children and Young Adults Who Used Medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Faced Increased Cardiac Risks.

Howaida Elmowafi, Jenny M Kindblom, Linda Halldner, David Gyllenberg, Estelle Naumburg

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

5 authors.

Howaida ElmowafiDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0009-0191-7690
Jenny M KindblomDepartment of Drug Treatment, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-8437-0639
Linda HalldnerDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-0561-5998
David GyllenbergDepartment of Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Estelle NaumburgDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Funding

FORTEThe Swedish Heart and Lung Association 20210285The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare 2021-00812
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThere have been concerns about links between medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cardiac events in children and young people. Our aim was to identify any associations.

methodThis Swedish case-control study used national register data to identify individuals aged 5-30 years who received their first diagnosis of a cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, fainting or collapse in 2006-2018. Each case was matched with five controls, by age, sex and region. Associations between ADHD medication and cardiac events were assessed using adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Adjustments were made for concomitant medications and comorbidities, including congenital heart disease (CHD).

resultsWe studied 112 605 cases (57.9% female), with a median age of 20 years (range 5-30), and 563 024 matched controls. Using ADHD medication was associated with cardiac events (aOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.47-1.81) across sexes and age groups. Undefined arrhythmias had the strongest association (aOR 2.66, 95% CI 2.27-3.13). Cardiac arrests and defined arrhythmias had no associations. Long-term medication was associated with an increased risk (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.28). CHD had no impact.

conclusionADHD medication was associated with cardiac events, particularly undefined arrhythmias. CHD did not increase the risk.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityCentral Nervous System StimulantsHeart DiseasesAdolescentAdultCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleSwedenYoung AdultCentral Nervous System Stimulantsarrhythmiaattention deficit hyperactivity disordercardiac arrestfaintingmedication

Identifiers

PMID40629932
PMCPMC12520273

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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.