ADHD is a common disorder that often presents in childhood and is associated with increased healthcare resource use.

To evaluate ADHD incidence and estimate resource utilization and costs of care in the UK.

The Clinical Practice Research Datalink was searched between 1998 and 2010 for patients aged 6-17 years, newly diagnosed with ADHD. Age- and sex-matched, controls were also identified (ratio 1:3). ADHD incidence was calculated as the number of incident cases/100,000 people (/100k) in the at-risk population. Resource utilization in the first year post-diagnosis was estimated for general practice (GP) contacts, investigations, drug treatments, outpatient appointments, and inpatient admissions. Monetary costs were derived from various sources (at 2011 prices).

2,873 subjects with ADHD and 6,598 matched controls were identified. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 9.8 (2.8) years and most (87%) were boys. The incidence of ADHD amongst boys and girls, respectively, increased from 69/100k and 7/100k in 1998 to 132/100k and 24/100k in 2007, and then fell to 98/100k and 20/100k in 2010. The mean (SD) annual, cost was £1,291 (£2,121) for cases and £315 (£2,345) for controls. For cases and controls, respectively, annual costs comprised GP contacts (£199, £70), investigations (£10, £8), drug treatments (£306, £37), outpatient appointments (£572, £62) and inpatient admissions (£203, £139).

The incidence of ADHD increased between 1998 and 2007, then declined slightly in 2010. Medical costs in the first year post-diagnosis were notably higher in children with ADHD compared with controls

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