Drugs for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder do not increase the mid-term risk of sudden death in children: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobehavioral condition that typically manifests in childhood and is characterized by a wide range of emotional, functional, and neurocognitive impairments that interfere with social and emotional quality of life. According to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the diagnosis is made by confirming numerous symptoms in the inattention domain or the hyperactivity–impulsivity domain or both. Stimulant medications have been demonstrated to be efficacious and are considered the first-line pharmacological therapy for ADHD. Because of the increasing recognition of ADHD as a chronic disorder, the use of medications for the treatment of this disease has considerably expanded over the last decade, becoming common also among adolescents and adults in addition to prepubertal children. Both stimulants and atomoxetine have cardiovascular effects with increase in heart rate and blood pressure.