Finland Study Finds Younger Children Within a School Grade More Likely to Be Medicated for ADHD

A Finland study published in the October 2020 Pediatrics found that younger children within a school grade were more likely to be prescribed medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), suggesting the children were relatively immature. The study, “Children’s Relative Age and ADHD Medication Use: A Finnish Population-Based Study” (published online Sept. 21), found medication use among children was more pronounced during the first school years (ages 6–8). The authors analyzed data among 182,802 Finnish children born between 2005 and 2007. Cases were identified from the first purchase of medication for ADHD. The risk of ADHD medication use increased throughout the year by birth month (i.e. from Jan–Apr to May–Aug to Sep–Dec). The authors conclude that the children born in May–August and September–December (i.e. relatively younger children in a school class) are more likely to receive ADHD medication in Finland compared to children born in January–April. The risk of a modest relative age effect was stable among males but appeared to be increasing among females. These findings may stem from the fact that ADHD medication use among males has become common in Finland, whereas the ADHD medication use among females is still relatively low. The authors suggest reconsideration of school entry regulations and increased availability of classroom contingency management programs.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.