The number of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Korea exceeded 100,000 in 2021, a report showed.
According to the National Health Insurance Service’s ADHD health insurance treatment status data from 2017 to 2021, the number of ADHD patients has nearly doubled from 53,056 in 2017 to 102,322 in 2021.
Notably, the increase rate for women ADHD patients was steep, with 182.8 percent over the five years, compared with men’s 70.4 percent increase.
By age group, teenagers accounted for the largest share with 41.3 percent (42,265), followed by those under nine (23.8 percent), those in their 20s (21.6 percent), and those in their 30s (9.4 percent).
Although teenagers and children form the overwhelming majority, adults in their 20s and older accounted for 34.9 percent.
The causes of ADHD are not clear. However, experts assume that genetic and environmental factors are involved in a complex way.
According to some specialists, ADHD occurs due to abnormalities in the brain's areas and pathways that control concentration and impulses. Long-term studies also show that if ADHD is not treated correctly at an early stage, 60 percent of patients who had ADHD in their youth continue to experience symptoms throughout adulthood.
Professor Ahn Jae-eun of the Department of Mental Health at National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital stressed that the absence of treatment during the early stages may have impacted the increase of adult ADHD patients.
“Children with ADHD are often diagnosed after elementary school, and they must receive treatment for several years after diagnosis,” Professor Ahn said. “Patients often start medical treatment only after entering high school.”
As the number of ADHD patients has increased rapidly over the past five years, total medical expenses have also increased significantly.
In 2021, ADHD-related medical expenses covered by health insurance totaled 87 billion won ($66.9 million), up 29.5 percent from 2017 (37.9 billion won).
The average annual increase in ADHD-related medical expenses per patient over the past five years also increased by 23.1 percent to 850,000 won in 2021.