Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany
Abstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder manifesting in early childhood with progressive muscular weakness and atrophy, and resulting in early loss of ambulation. The collection and evaluation of epidemiological data for this disease is crucial for an early diagnosi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27289-2 |
| _version_ | 1797958663153909760 |
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| author | Miriam Hiebeler Simone Thiele Peter Reilich Günther Bernert Maggie C. Walter |
| author_facet | Miriam Hiebeler Simone Thiele Peter Reilich Günther Bernert Maggie C. Walter |
| author_sort | Miriam Hiebeler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder manifesting in early childhood with progressive muscular weakness and atrophy, and resulting in early loss of ambulation. The collection and evaluation of epidemiological data for this disease is crucial for an early diagnosis and disease management. In Germany, data are collected via the TREAT-NMD DMD patient registry ( www.dmd-register.de ). In contrast, data collection in Austria has not yet been performed systematically. For collecting data from Austrian DMD patients, an online survey of the patient’s caregivers was conducted. Data of 57 patients were collected entailing initial symptoms, diagnosis and therapeutic measures. Comparable data has been collected for Germany via the TREAT-NMD DMD patient registry. 57 DMD patients aged 4–34 years completed the Austrian survey. On average, first symptoms of the disease appeared at the age of 3.1 years. As the most frequent first symptom, 46% of the patients described problems in climbing stairs. In 40% of the patients, DMD was diagnosed early due to an accidentally detected hyperCKemia in infancy or early childhood. Corticosteroids represented the main therapeutic option in our cohort. At the time of the survey, only 52% of the patients were treated with corticosteroids. Patients from Germany reported that first symptoms appeared at the age of 3.06 years. Diagnosis was established by genetic testing or muscle biopsy. 47% of the patients were treated with corticosteroids. Time between first symptoms and diagnosis was 7 months in Austria, and 4.7 months in Germany, respectively. Compared to earlier international studies, the Austrian data show encouraging results regarding earlier start of corticosteroid therapy in a larger percentage of patients. Austrian and German data show a trend towards an earlier diagnosis of DMD, while the age at symptom onset was similar to previous studies. The collection and evaluation of epidemiological data of DMD patients is important and will hopefully contribute to accelerate DMD diagnosis and treatment access for the patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:23:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3c9ca1f569a4a0f96fb71aeba124e3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:23:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3c9ca1f569a4a0f96fb71aeba124e3c2023-01-08T12:12:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-01-011311810.1038/s41598-022-27289-2Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and GermanyMiriam Hiebeler0Simone Thiele1Peter Reilich2Günther Bernert3Maggie C. Walter4Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of MunichDepartment of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of MunichDepartment of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of MunichDepartment of Pediatrics, Klinik FavoritenDepartment of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of MunichAbstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder manifesting in early childhood with progressive muscular weakness and atrophy, and resulting in early loss of ambulation. The collection and evaluation of epidemiological data for this disease is crucial for an early diagnosis and disease management. In Germany, data are collected via the TREAT-NMD DMD patient registry ( www.dmd-register.de ). In contrast, data collection in Austria has not yet been performed systematically. For collecting data from Austrian DMD patients, an online survey of the patient’s caregivers was conducted. Data of 57 patients were collected entailing initial symptoms, diagnosis and therapeutic measures. Comparable data has been collected for Germany via the TREAT-NMD DMD patient registry. 57 DMD patients aged 4–34 years completed the Austrian survey. On average, first symptoms of the disease appeared at the age of 3.1 years. As the most frequent first symptom, 46% of the patients described problems in climbing stairs. In 40% of the patients, DMD was diagnosed early due to an accidentally detected hyperCKemia in infancy or early childhood. Corticosteroids represented the main therapeutic option in our cohort. At the time of the survey, only 52% of the patients were treated with corticosteroids. Patients from Germany reported that first symptoms appeared at the age of 3.06 years. Diagnosis was established by genetic testing or muscle biopsy. 47% of the patients were treated with corticosteroids. Time between first symptoms and diagnosis was 7 months in Austria, and 4.7 months in Germany, respectively. Compared to earlier international studies, the Austrian data show encouraging results regarding earlier start of corticosteroid therapy in a larger percentage of patients. Austrian and German data show a trend towards an earlier diagnosis of DMD, while the age at symptom onset was similar to previous studies. The collection and evaluation of epidemiological data of DMD patients is important and will hopefully contribute to accelerate DMD diagnosis and treatment access for the patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27289-2 |
| spellingShingle | Miriam Hiebeler Simone Thiele Peter Reilich Günther Bernert Maggie C. Walter Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany Scientific Reports |
| title | Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany |
| title_full | Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany |
| title_fullStr | Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany |
| title_short | Time to diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Austria and Germany |
| title_sort | time to diagnosis of duchenne muscular dystrophy in austria and germany |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27289-2 |
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