Association Between ADHD and Pediatric Asthma: Results From a Large-Sample Cross-Sectional Study of National Surveys and Mendelian Randomization Analyses.

Abstract

Background: ADHD often overlaps with pediatric asthma, leading to difficulties in treatment and management in clinical work. Previous research has explored their correlations but gained different conclusions. Thus, this work aims to fill this evidence gap.

Methods: Initially, we conducted a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004. The association between ADHD and pediatric asthma was explored by the weighted multivariate-adjusted logistic regression. Then, the bidirectional univariate Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analyses were performed to estimate the causal effects and then investigate if risk factors of pediatric asthma mediated in the causal pathways. Last, we conducted multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses adjusting for these mediating/confounding factors to determine the direct causality between ADHD and pediatric asthma.

Results: In the cross-sectional analysis, ADHD was positively associated with pediatric asthma both before (OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.26, 2.53], p = .008) and after adjusting for all covariates (OR = 1.62, 95% CI [1.10, 2.39], p = .048). In the UVMR analysis using the inverse-variance weighting (IVW) method, ADHD was found to increase the risk of pediatric asthma (OR = 1.070, 95% CI [1.029, 1.112], p = 6.566 × 10⁻⁴). This association remained significant after adjusting for confirmed mediating factors (obesity traits and smoking exposures) using MVMR (OR = 1.088, 95% CI [1.021, 1.160], p = .009). Another adjustment for remaining potential confounders (atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases) via MVMR maintained the significant causal link (OR = 1.272, 95% CI [1.159, 1.396], p < .001).

Conclusions: ADHD increased the onset of pediatric asthma with mediating factors including obesity and smoke exposure.