Newly released report reveals a growing number
of adults are being diagnosed and treated for attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a trend that isn't showing any
signs of slowing
TORONTO, Sept. 21,
2023 /CNW/ - Over the last five
years, Manulife has seen a sharp spike in the number of adults
submitting claims for ADHD medications, and newly released data
suggests that this trend shows no signs of slowing. According to
Manulife's latest Special Report on Employee Health
Insights, from 2021 to 2022 the number of unique claimants for
ADHD medication, ages 18 and over, grew by 24.5 per cent. This is
compared to an average claimant growth rate of 15.3 per cent from
2017 – 2021.
"The data in our report provides relevant information for
organizations to support them in making better-informed
decisions to ensure their employees have access to the services and
care they need," says Ashesh Desai,
head of Group Benefits for Manulife Canada. "For example, our data
reflects the understanding that ADHD is not simply something "you
grow out of". The fact that this condition can – and clearly does –
continue into adulthood is something that all employers should
know."
According to CADDRA, the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, ADHD
is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in
Canada, affecting 4-6% of adults
and 5-7% of children, or approximately 1.8 million Canadians. When
left untreated, ADHD can present alongside other mental health
conditions such as depression and anxiety. This can lead
to risk factors for several other health issues including
heart disease and obesity, which can require people to take time
off work.
The Manulife Special Report on Employee Health Insights
takes a deep dive into the potential reasons for the uptick in
diagnoses. According to the report, one of the primary factors
driving the spike is an increase in overall awareness about ADHD.
As doctors become better equipped to recognize the signs and
symptoms of ADHD in adulthood, they can better differentiate it
from other conditions.
"Increasing claims related to mental health concerns can
indicate overall worsening mental health and increased prevalence
of mental health diagnoses," says Dr. Steve
Pomedli, Manulife's medical director of group benefits
through Cleveland Clinic Canada. "But the increase we're seeing in
ADHD, especially in the adult population, can also suggest improved
awareness of this disorder and that more individuals are accessing
needed services. In the long run, this can be seen as positive as
individuals take proactive steps to improve their health and
well-being."
The Manulife Special Report on Employee Health
Insights also finds that an individual's work environment,
especially the 'Work from Home' response during the Covid-19
pandemic, may have played a role in surfacing ADHD symptoms that
were previously masked by structured work environments.
Additionally, the report finds that the popularity of social
media posts talking about the signs and symptoms of ADHD may be
contributing to the increase of diagnosis. With billions of views
across platforms, these posts are drawing attention to this
disorder and as a result, more people are talking to their doctor
about possible ADHD concerns.
Diagnosis of ADHD in Women
For decades, ADHD was diagnosed more in men than in women, but
the Manulife Special Report on Employee Health Insights
report suggests that this gap is rapidly closing. In fact, in 2022,
the diagnosis ratio for ADHD was 53 per cent male to 47 per cent
female. This is compared to five years ago, when it was 60 per cent
male and 40 per cent female. While exact reasoning for this is not
fully understood, according to the Cleveland Clinic, it could be
due to how symptoms present: men typically tend to display
more behaviours related to impulsivity or hyperactivity, whereas
women more often exhibit symptoms related to inattentiveness –
which may have contributed to underdiagnoses for decades.
As Manulife reported earlier this year, an average of 48 days –
per employee – were lost in 2022 due to health‑related absences and
presenteeism. "Our goal with our second Special Report on
Employee Health Insights is to help ensure employees are set up
for success," continues Desai. "With these insights, employers can
better influence, mitigate, and stay ahead of the issues affecting
the well-being of their employees and by doing so, create healthier
workplaces that contribute to organizational success and
bottom-line business results."
As a leading Group Benefits provider, Manulife has one of the
largest and most comprehensive health data sets in the country
(outside of government). By carefully analyzing the aggregated
data, Manulife is able to better understand key drivers of health
that can impact employee behaviour and ultimately impact health
outcomes for Canadians.
Additional Information:
For more information, you can
read the latest Special Report on Employee Health
Insights prepared by Manulife.
About Manulife:
Manulife Financial Corporation is a
leading international financial services provider, helping people
make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global
headquarters in Toronto, Canada,
we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife
across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the
United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the
global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we
serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members
worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees,
over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners,
serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the
Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges
and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not
all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional
information, please visit manulife.com.
SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation