Profile of pediatric patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in an outpatient department in a tertiary hospital

Ivy Marie L. Racho MD, Francis Xavier Daniel M. Dimalanta MD

Background: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood.

Objectives: To determine the profile, co-morbidities of patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in an outpatient department in a tertiary hospital.

Design: descriptive study with retrospective mode of data collection

Setting: St. Luke’s Medical Center, a private tertiary hospital

Participants: ADHD patients, 4 -18 years of age, seen at the pediatric outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary hospital, from May 2013 to May 2015. There were 60 cases of patients with ADHD during the study period. In the logbooks, 48 ADHD patients were identified. In the medical records section, 11 patients were lost to follow up and 2 had incomplete chart records; total of 35 ADHD patients were included in the study.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages and frequency tables and graphs were used to analyze the data using SPSS program (Version 11.5) and Microsoft Excel 2010.

Results and Conclusion: There were 7 ADHD cases per 1000 patients seen and they comprised 11% of OPD developmental pediatric consults. Majority of the patients were attending regular school. The most common type of ADHD was the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type. There were more males than females in the study population. Mean age was 10 years. Most mothers were high school graduates and were housewives.