Increased Risk of Asthma in Children with ADHD: Role of Prematurity and Maternal Stress during Pregnancy

ADHD and asthma are prevalent conditions in childhood, with complex pathophysiology involving geneticenvironmental interplay. The study objective is to examine the prevalence of asthma in our ADHD population and explore factors that may increase the risk of developing asthma in children with ADHD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the presence of maternal stress during pregnancy and history of asthma in 201 children diagnosed with ADHD. Results: Chi-square analysis indicated significant higher presence of asthma in our ADHD sample compared to Quebec children, chi(2) (1, N = 201) = 15.37, P < 0.001. Only prematurity and stress during pregnancy significantly predicted asthma in a logistic regression model, chi(2) (2) = 23.70, P < 0.001, with odds ratios of 10.6 (95% CI: 2.8-39.5) and 3.2 (95% CI: 1.4-7.3), respectively. Conclusion: Children with ADHD have a higher prevalence of asthma than the general Quebec pediatric population. Children with ADHD born prematurely and/or those whose mothers experienced stress during pregnancy have a significantly increased risk of developing asthma. The study highlights the importance of potentially offering social and psychological support to mothers who experienced stress during pregnancy and/or are at risk of delivering prematurely.