People diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more than twice as likely to die prematurely than non-sufferers, mainly due to accidents, a Danish study said Thursday.
The risk was higher for women than for men, it added, and for people diagnosed in adulthood.
The data was taken from a study of two million people on the Danish population register, including over 32,000 ADHD sufferers, from their first birthday to the year 2013 -- the longest was 32 years.
A total of 107 ADHD-diagnosed people died, the team found.
"People diagnosed with ADHD were about twice as likely to die prematurely as people without the disorder," even factoring in other potential influences like age, gender, psychotic disorders and education levels.
In those ADHD cases where the cause of death was known, more than half were attributed to accidents, the study said.
While the relative death risk was higher, the absolute risk remains low, it added.
ADHD is a condition blamed for severe and frequent bouts of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsiveness, often leading to problems in socializing and education. Children and young adolescents are most frequently diagnosed.
"Our findings emphasize the importance diagnosing ADHD early, especially in girls and women," said study leader Soeren Dalsgaard from Aarhus University in Denmark.