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Childhood obesity and parental smoking as risk factors for childhood ADHD in Liverpool children

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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

Abstract

ADHD prevalence has risen in parallel with rising prevalence of pregnancy smoking and childhood obesity. The objective was to determine the epidemiological association of pregnancy smoking and childhood obesity with ADHD. A cross-sectional community study was conducted in 2006 using a parental questionnaire. A total of 1,074 schoolchildren aged 5–11 years were enrolled from 15 primary schools in a lower socio-economic area of Merseyside. ADHD was defined by the question “does your child have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD), which has been diagnosed by a doctor?” The prevalence estimates for childhood obesity, maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood ADHD were 14.9% (116/777), 28.0% (269/955), and 3.4% (32/945), respectively. ADHD prevalence increased fivefold in children with obesity (RR, 4.80, 95% CI 2.2–10.4, P < 0.001) and more than twofold in children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy (RR, 2.44, 95% CI 1.2–4.9, P = 0.02). Regression analysis adjusting for obesity, overweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy, heavy maternal smoking, household member smoking during pregnancy, doctor-diagnosed asthma, preterm birth, and low birthweight showed significant independent associations of ADHD prevalence with obesity (AOR, 4.66, 95% CI 1.57–13.89, P = 0.006) and pregnancy smoking (AOR, 3.19, 95% CI 1.08–9.49, P = 0.04). There was a positive dose–response association of ADHD with the number of maternal cigarettes smoked during pregnancy. Measures to reduce both smoking among pregnant women and childhood obesity might reduce prevalence of childhood ADHD.

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Acknowledgments

The co-operation of Mr Greg Harper from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Dr. Jane Richardson, who helped with optical reading of the questionnaires, are gratefully acknowledged. We thank the head teachers and school children for participating in the study. The 2006 survey was funded by the Liverpool Children’s Research Fund and Leverhulme Research Fund.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Reproductive Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK

    Gibby Koshy, Ali Delpisheh & Bernard J. Brabin

  2. Department of Community Child Health, Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital, Alder Hey, NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK

    Bernard J. Brabin

  3. Emma Kinderziekenhuis, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Bernard J. Brabin

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  1. Gibby Koshy
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  2. Ali Delpisheh
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Correspondence to Bernard J. Brabin.

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Koshy, G., Delpisheh, A. & Brabin, B.J. Childhood obesity and parental smoking as risk factors for childhood ADHD in Liverpool children. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord 3, 21–28 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-010-0041-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-010-0041-z

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