Patient visits and prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from 2017–2021: Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in primary care

Abstract

Objective To determine whether more patients presented with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related visits and/or sought care from family physicians more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Electronic medical records from the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network were used to characterize changes in family physician visits and prescriptions for ADHD medications. Annual patient prevalence and visit rates pre-pandemic (2017–2019) were used to calculate the expected rates in 2020 and 2021. The expected and observed rates were compared to identify any pandemic-related changes. Results The number of patients presenting for ADHD-related visits during the pandemic was consistent with pre-pandemic trends. However, observed ADHD-related visits in 2021 were 1.32 times higher than expected (95% CI: 1.05–1.75), suggesting that patients visited family physicians more frequently than before the pandemic. Conclusion Demand for primary care services related to ADHD has continued to increase during the pandemic, with increased health service use among those accessing care.