In the latest publication, CDC revealed latest trends of increasing ADHD diagnoses in comparison to residential areas in the US. This is a quick summary of a part of the comprehensive survey: National Health Interview Survey, 2020-2022. Current brief talks about diagnosis rates in 5 to 17 years olds for ADD and ADHD.
In the span of 2020 to 2022, approximately 11.3% of children and adolescents, aged between 5 and 17 years, were identified as having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A noteworthy observation emerged when examining the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses in relation to the level of urbanization, indicating an interesting pattern.
| Age Group | Urbanization Level | Percentage of ADHD Diagnoses |
|---|---|---|
| 5-17 years | Large Central Metropolitan Areas | 9.4% |
| Nonmetropolitan Areas | 13.9% | |
| ————————- | ——————————————- | ——————————— |
| 5-11 years | Large Central Metropolitan Areas | 6.9% |
| Nonmetropolitan Areas | 10.8% | |
| ————————- | ——————————————- | ——————————— |
| 12-17 years | Large Central Metropolitan Areas | 12.1% |
| Nonmetropolitan Areas | 17.1% |
It is notable that a correlation exists between the decreasing level of urbanization and an increased likelihood of receiving an ADHD diagnosis. The percentages demonstrate a rise from 9.4% in large central metropolitan areas to 13.9% in nonmetropolitan areas among the overall 5-17 age group. This trend persists when examining specific age brackets, such as 5-11 years (6.9% to 10.8%) and 12-17 years (12.1% to 17.1%).
Furthermore, an intriguing finding is the consistent higher likelihood of older children and adolescents (12-17 years) receiving an ADHD diagnosis compared to their younger counterparts (5-11 years) across all urbanization levels. This data provides valuable insights into the distribution of ADHD diagnoses among different age groups and urbanization settings during the specified time frame.
