Association between e-cigarette use and parents' report of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among US youth

There is paucity of literature that evaluates e-cigarette use rates among the youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study is to compare the rates of cigarette only, e-cigarette only, dual use, and initiation age of regular use and trying to quit cigarettes or e-cigarettes among the youth with and without ADHD.

We used Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study Wave 3 (2015-2016) youth data, a nationally representative cross-sectional study in the US. The main outcome was tobacco use status of youth and ADHD diagnosis was based on parent report.

The survey included 11801 youth (50%, 12-14 years; 49% female). Compared to youth without ADHD, the relative risk ratio (RRR) was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.02-3.21) for cigarette only use, 1.41 (95% CI: 1.01-2.21) for e-cigarette only use, 3.40 (95% CI: 1.69-6.84) for dual use, 1.75 (95% CI: 0.92-3.35) for cigarette and other product(s) use, 1.48 (95% CI: 0.58-3.77) for e-cigarette and other product(s) use, and 3.37 (95% CI: 1.88-6.17) for poly use among youth with ADHD, after adjusting for age group, sex, and race/ethnicity.

Cigarette only use, e-cigarette only use, dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and poly use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other product(s) were significantly associated with parent report of an ADHD diagnosis. It is critical for healthcare providers to be screening youth for e-cigarette use, especially youth who are diagnosed with ADHD.