Relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: a Meta analysis

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. METHODS: The papers relating to the relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to childhood ADHD were searched in the Database CBM, CNKI, VIP and PubMed. The Meta-analysis software RevMan 5.0 was used for the heterogeneity test and for the pooled OR calculation. Sensitivity and publication bias analysis were performed. RESULTS: Five control studies were included for the Meta analysis, including 258 cases of ADHD and 138 control cases. There was heterogeneity in the studies on the relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to childhood ADHD (P=0.003). So the studies were analyzed using the random-effect model. The pooled OR of serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to childhood ADHD was -23.09 (95%CI:-33.06-13.13; P<0.00001). The funnel plots did not indicate the existence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The results from present Meta analysis can prove that serum ferritin levels are associated with susceptibility to childhood ADHD.