“We are classmates, but up to 1 year apart… If you enter school early, the rate of ADHD diagnosis is high.”

New book ‘Economics Hidden in Medical Charts’… Analysis of the impact of unexpected variables on health

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Se-won Lee = One of the recent concerns of parents raising children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that about 9.4% of children ages 2 to 18 were diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is known to be characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

However, research has shown that children receiving a diagnosis of ADHD is influenced by the entry date and birthday set by educational authorities. If students are admitted by birth period in 365-day increments, the biological ages of students in the same grade may differ by up to one year, and this factor is said to affect ADHD.

In the case of young children, one year is enough time to make a significant difference in their physical and mental development, and the study was conducted on the hypothesis that young children are more likely to show symptoms of ADHD because their biological age in the same grade makes it difficult to meet the expectations of teachers and parents. has begun.

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Anupam B. Jenna and Christopher Worsham, professors of health policy at Harvard Medical School and doctors, introduce the results of their analysis in the recently translated and published ‘Economics Hidden in Medical Charts’ (Across).

book cover image

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The two authors found that children born in August in states with an entry cutoff date of September 1 had a 34% higher rate of ADHD diagnosis and treatment than those born in September of the previous year and the oldest biological age group in the same grade.

We also investigated ADHD treatment and found that the average amount of ADHD medication prescribed to children born in August was 120 days more than the average amount prescribed to children born in September. Generally, stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall are prescribed to treat ADHD. When used appropriately, these drugs can calm hyperactivity and improve concentration, but may suppress appetite or cause mental disorders and sleep disorders. The book points out that there is a risk.

To check whether the hypothesis was correct, we compared the ADHD diagnosis rates between the July and August birth groups and between the September and October birth groups, and found no significant differences. In addition, in states where the standard admission date was not September 1, there was no significant difference in ADHD diagnosis rates between children born in August and children born in September.

The book analyzes through several cases the impact of unexpected variables or chance factors on people’s health and the health care system.

For example, we also attempt to answer the question, ‘Will you age faster if you become president?’ Barack Obama, who was 47 years old when he took office as President of the United States, soon began to gray his hair, leading to analysis that it was due to the burden of the presidency.

To answer the question of whether people age faster when they become heads of state, the authors analyze how long presidents (or prime ministers) live.

barack obama

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First, we compare the survival period of the elected candidates with the life expectancy (average number of years expected to survive in the future) of people of the same age and gender at the time of election and examine the difference. In addition, the survival period of the candidate who took second place is compared with the life expectancy of people of the same age and gender to identify differences.

As a result, it was found that those elected as president or prime minister had an average lifespan of 2.7 years shorter than the candidates who came in second place. This means that if you become a government leader, you will age faster than those who lost the competition.

Translated by Go Hyeon-seok. Page 424.

sewonlee@yna.co.kr

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2024/11/03 09:00 Sent