John D. Cowden, MD, MPH reviewing Coker TR et al. Pediatrics 2016 Sep.

Likelihood of being diagnosed with and treated for ADHD was lower in African-Americans and Latinos versus whites, but study results do not support authors' conclusions about causes.

Racial/ethnic disparities in diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are demonstrated in multiple studies. Whether differences reflect underdiagnosis of minority children, overdiagnosis among white children, or both is unknown.

Researchers surveyed parents of 4297 children attending public schools in three U.S. metropolitan areas at three time points (5th, 7th, and 10th grades) about their children's ADHD symptoms, previous diagnosis of ADHD by a healthcare provider, and ADHD medication use. Results were compared by race/ethnicity (African-American, Latino, white) and adjusted for covariates, including income, parental education, comorbid behavioral/mental health problems, and receipt of family-centered care.

At each time point, African-American and Latino children were less likely than white children to have received an ADHD diagnosis or to take ADHD medication (approximate adjusted odds ratios of 0.4 at each time point). Among children with no evidence of ADHD (by parental report or previous diagnosis), adjusted odds of ADHD medication use were similar between the racial/ethnic groups in all three grades.

CITATION(S):

Coker TR et al. Racial and ethnic disparities in ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Pediatrics 2016 Sep; 138:e20160407.

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