Clinical Characteristics of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Childhood Malignant Hematologic Diseases

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children treated for childhood malignant hematologic diseases, and determine the different characteristics of the patients with ADHD as opposed to the patients without ADHD, which will help to predict the development of ADHD and to help treat them. Methods: 172 patients diagnosed as childhood malignant hematologic diseases went through the test battery including diagnostic criteria for ADHD in pediatric neurology department of Seoul St. Mary`s hospital from March 2009 to May 2012. Age, sex, ADHD type, hematologic diseases type, age at onset of hematologic diseases, treatment with/without chemotherapy and relapse were investigated. These data were compared between the groups of the patients without ADHD and with ADHD. Results: Out of 172 patients, Fifty one patients (29.6%) had both ADHD and childhood malignant hematologic diseases. Sex (male), age at onset of hematologic diseases (5 years) and treatment(with chemotherapy) was significantly higher in the patients with ADHD than the patients without ADHD (P0.05). Male had about 2.9 fold increased risk for ADHD compared to female (P=0.005). The patients 5 years of age at onset had about 3.3 fold increased risk for ADHD compared to the patients 11 years (P=0.007). The patients with chemotherapy had about 3.4 fold increased risk for ADHD compared to the patients without chemotherapy (P=0.023). Conclusion: This study showed childhood malignant hematologic disorders has significant correlation with ADHD. In addition, Male, 5 years of age at onset and use of chemotherapy in the patients can be necessary to predict ADHD. Therefore, early detection and establishment of the countermeasures for ADHD are necessary.